A pilot study to evaluate the role of circulation CD4(+) CCR6(+) CRTh2(+) cell in predicting risk of asthma in wheezing children

BACKGROUND: Wheezing is common in younger children and often related to viral infection. It is lack of reliable indicators for asthma prediction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between circulation CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+) memory Th2 cells and asthma diagnosis in wheezing children. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in children under 5 years old presented with wheezing or at last one episode of documented wheezing history. After inclusion, the level of serum allergen-specific serum IgE (sIgE) and circulating CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+)cells were detected. The patients’ personal and family histories of allergic disease were acquired by questionnaire. The children were followed up over 2 years. Diagnosis of asthma was assessed at the end follow-up. The risk factors in predicting asthma diagnosis were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 43 children completed follow-up. Higher wheezing frequency were found in children with asthma diagnosis. The mean of circulating CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+)cells in children diagnosed with or without asthma was 1.6 %±0.8 and 0.8 %±0.6 %, respectively, and was significantly higher in children diagnosed with asthma (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between children with and without allergic diseases history or family allergic diseases in level of circulating CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+) cells. Logistic regression analysis indicated that circulating CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+) cells (EXP, 8.986; 95 % CI,1.886–42.816) and wheezing frequency(EXP, 0.127; 95 % CI, 0.023–0.703)were high risk factors for asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Our exploratory study shown that circulating CD4(+)CCR6(+)CRTh2(+) memory Th2 cells increased in asthma diagnosed children and it was a high-risk factor for asthma. Detection of this type of cells could be helpful in predicting the risk of asthma in wheezing children.