Cell-mediated immune responses in malnourished host

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Cell-mediated immunity is crucial for child health.
• Malnutrition is a prevalent issue affecting children globally.
• Understanding the immune status of malnourished children is vital for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cell-mediated immune response in children aged 6 months to 5 years with varying nutritional statuses.
• To assess the impact of malnutrition, specifically marasmus and kwashiorkor, on T cell counts and function.
• To evaluate the efficacy of dietary therapy in restoring immune function.

Main Methods:

• Assessed nutritional status using the Wellcome classification in 100 children.
• Measured absolute lymphocyte count, small lymphocyte percentage, and T cell counts (absolute and percentage).
• Utilized the 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) skin test to evaluate cell-mediated immunity.

Main Results:

• Malnourished children exhibited significantly lower absolute lymphocyte and T cell counts (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), with kwashiorkor showing the most severe depression.
• Only 39% of malnourished children had a DNCB skin reaction grade of 2+ compared to 100% of controls.
• Following 4-6 weeks of dietary therapy, T cell counts normalized, and over 75% of children showed normal DNCB skin test responses.

Conclusions:

• Malnutrition significantly depresses cell-mediated immunity in children.
• Dietary therapy is effective in reversing immune deficits caused by malnutrition.
• Restoration of T cell counts and DNCB skin test reactivity indicates successful immune recovery.