Abstract: Objective To detect the frequencies of peripheral T cell subpopulations expressing different intracellular cytokines in patients with atopic dermatitis （AD） and to explore their relation to disease severity. Methods Twenty-four patients and 16 normal human controls were enrolled into this study. The frequencies of CD4+, CD8+ and CLA+ T cells intracellularly expressing IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ or TNF-α were detected by flow cytometry. The disease severity was assessed by atopic dermatitis area and severity index（ADASI）. The relationship of T cell subpopulations to ADASI was evaluated. Results Compared with the controls, the frequencies of IL-4- or IL-5-expressing CD4+, CD8+ and CLA+ T cells were all significantly increased, while those of IFN-γ-expressing CD4+ and CLA+ T cells were decreased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AD patients （all P < 0.05）. No difference was found in the frequency of TNF-α-expressing cells in different T cell subpopulations between the patients and controls （P > 0.05）. There was a correlation between ADASI and the frequencies of IL-4+CD4+ T cells and IL-5+CLA+ T cells. Conclusions There is an immune shift in peripheral T cells of AD patients, and the frequencies of IL-4+CD4+ T and IL-5+CLA+ T cells may be used as parameters for AD severity.