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The immune system response to Campylobacter infection
A Melamed1, V Zakuth, D Schwartz
1Department of Pediatrics, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Rokach Hospital, Israel.
Insights
Campylobacter infections in children are usually self-limiting due to a normal immune response. However, compromised immune systems can lead to prolonged and complicated Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni (CBJ) infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Campylobacter is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in children.
- It may disproportionately affect immunocompromised children and facilitate other pathogen colonization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune system response in children with Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni (CBJ) infections.
- To understand the role of immune status in the clinical course of CBJ infections.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed serum immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG) concentrations.
- Assessed specific antibodies to CBJ using ELISA.
- Evaluated lymphocyte response to mitogens (Con A, PWM, PHA) and CBJ antigen.
- Studied T-cell subsets and chemotaxis to various stimulants.
Main Results:
- Most children had normal immunoglobulin levels; exceptions were those with agammaglobulinemia or hypoagammaglobulinemia.
- Specific antibody levels were elevated in the CBJ group, except in agammaglobulinemic patients.
- Lymphocyte response to mitogens and T-cell subsets were normal, but blastogenic transformation to CBJ antigen and chemotaxis were decreased.
Conclusions:
- Normal immune responses typically lead to self-limiting CBJ infections in children.
- Disturbances in the immune system can result in prolonged and complicated CBJ infections.
Abstract:
Campylobacter may be one of the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis (GE) in children. It has recently been suggested that it is one of the bacterial pathogens most likely to infect immune-compromised children, and it may facilitate colonization of enteric pathogens. The immune system response was studied in 12 children with Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni (CBJ) infections. Serum concentrations of IgA, IgM, and IgG were analyzed using a Beckman auto-analyzer. Sera specific Ab to CBJ were tested with CBJ specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mitogen stimulation of lymphocytes was performed to three lectins: Con A, PWM, and PHA. The lymphocyte blast transformation to Campylobacter was studied using the Campylobacter antigen. T-cell subsets were studied using the monoclonal antibodies Leu 2, 3, and 4 (Becton Dickinson). Chemotaxis was measured in modified Boyden chambers; chemotactic stimulants were the Formyl Met Leu Phe, Campylobacter antigen virion, and E. coli 0111 B. Immunoglobulins were normal in nine cases and abnormal in two children previously diagnosed as agammaglobulinemic and one diagnosed as hypoagammaglobulinemic. Specific serum Ab level was significantly higher in the CBJ group, except in the agammaglobulinemic group. Stimulation indices to mitogens and monoclonal subset were in the normal range. The blastogenic transformation to CBJ Ag was decreased compared to normal lectins, and positive and high compared to controls. The chemotactic activity to campylobacter Ag was decreased in comparison to other stimulants. Most CBJ infections are self-limiting due to a normal immune response and collaboration of all cellular limbs. When, however, the immune response is disturbed, we may find a prolonged and complicated course of CBJ.