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CD95 expression in white blood cells of malnourished infants during hospitalization and catch-up growth
M F Nassar1, S R El-Batrawy, N M Nagy
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. maie_nassar@yahoo.co.uk
Insights
Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in infants elevates apoptotic markers in white blood cells. Nutritional rehabilitation improves these markers, suggesting a link between malnutrition, apoptosis, and immune function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nutritional Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Malnutrition, particularly protein energy malnutrition (PEM), poses a significant health challenge in developing nations.
- Immune system disturbances are common in malnourished individuals, increasing susceptibility to infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of apoptosis, specifically the expression of the CD95 marker, in leukocytes of infants with PEM.
- To assess the impact of nutritional rehabilitation on CD95 expression in these infants.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify CD95 expression on neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes.
- The study included infants with non-oedematous PEM, oedematous PEM, and matched controls.
- Measurements were taken on hospital admission and after nutritional rehabilitation.
Main Results:
- Infants with PEM exhibited significantly higher CD95 counts in all measured leukocyte types compared to controls.
- Nutritional rehabilitation led to a reduction in CD95 counts, though levels remained higher than in controls.
- These findings suggest enhanced apoptosis in leukocytes of PEM infants.
Conclusions:
- Elevated CD95 expression in leukocytes of PEM infants may serve as a biomarker for increased infection risk and immune dysregulation.
- Nutritional rehabilitation can reverse these apoptotic derangements, highlighting the importance of adequate nutrition for immune health.
Abstract:
Malnutrition continues to be a major health burden in developing countries. Flow cytometric estimation of the apoptotic marker CD95 in peripheral neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes was done for 18 infants with non-oedematous protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and 12 oedematous ones, on hospital admission and after supervised nutritional rehabilitation, and compared with 12 matched controls. CD95 counts in the 3 types of white blood cells were significantly higher in PEM infants and showed improvement after nutritional rehabilitation yet not reaching the control values. Enhanced apoptosis in the leukocytes of peripheral blood of PEM patients may be a marker of increased infection and immune disturbances. This derangement reverses upon proper nutritional rehabilitation.
