Background: The innate immune response is the primary defense against influenza virus infection.
Methods: This is a prospective study carried out in children <18 years of age who were diagnosed with influenza A or influenza B infection. Demographic and clinical data, laboratory findings and cell immunophenotypes on first presentation were compared.
Results: With respect to immunophenotype, influenza A infection resulted in a higher fraction of CD14+ and CD4+IL-17A+cells compared to children infected with influenza B. By contrast, influenza B infection resulted in a comparatively higher percentage of double-negative CD4-CD8- lymphocyte subsets. Influenza A infection was associated with comparatively higher percentages of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ and CD4+CD25lowFoxp3+ cells. By contrast, the percentage of CD8+CD25high and CD8+CD25low cells was similar among patients with influenza A infection and influenza B infection.
Conclusions: An improved understanding of the fraction of regulatory T cells with influenza virus infections may provide further understandings on immune responses.
Keywords: Antivirals; CD25; Immunophenotype; Influenza virus; Treg.
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