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Raised urinary secretory IgA in chronic diarrhoea
A Prentice1, D M Stirling, P B Sullivan
1MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge.
Insights
Malnourished children with chronic diarrhea showed increased urinary secretory IgA (sIgA) output, indicating a stimulated immune response. This suggests a common secretory immune system can respond to intestinal disease even in undernourished individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Secretory IgA (sIgA) is crucial for mucosal immunity.
- Nutritional status can impact immune responses.
- Chronic diarrhea is a significant health issue in malnourished children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate urinary secretory IgA (sIgA) output in malnourished children with chronic diarrhea.
- To compare sIgA levels between children with and without chronic diarrhea.
- To explore the relationship between nutritional status and sIgA production.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples were collected from 24 malnourished children with chronic diarrhea and 43 healthy village children in The Gambia.
- Urinary secretory IgA (sIgA) output was measured.
- Children's nutritional status was assessed using weight-for-age data.
Main Results:
- Village children with poor nutritional status had significantly lower sIgA output compared to better-nourished children.
- Children with chronic diarrhea exhibited significantly higher urinary sIgA output than village children, irrespective of nutritional status.
- This indicates intestinal disease can stimulate sIgA production.
Conclusions:
- Urinary secretory IgA (sIgA) output can be stimulated by intestinal disease.
- Malnourished children can mount an immune response to mucosal infections.
- Findings support the hypothesis of a common secretory immune system.
Abstract:
Secretory IgA outputs in urine have been measured in 24 malnourished Gambian children who had been admitted to hospital with chronic diarrhoea and in 43 children from a rural Gambian village. Village children of poor nutritional state (less than or equal to 74% weight for age compared with the National Center for Health Statistics reference curve) had secretory IgA outputs that were only one third of those of better nourished individuals. In contrast, the patients with chronic diarrhoea had secretory IgA outputs that were significantly raised compared with village children, regardless of nutritional state. These results demonstrate that secretory IgA production in the urinary tract can be stimulated by intestinal disease, suggesting that malnourished children are able to mount a response to mucosal infection and supporting the hypothesis of a common secretory immune system.