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Evaluation of neutrophil and lymphocyte function in subjects with iron deficiency
Insights
Iron deficiency in children did not impair neutrophil function or lymphocyte counts. However, iron deficiency anaemia specifically reduced lymphocyte transformation responses to common mitogens.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency is common in children and may affect immune function.
- Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the impact of iron deficiency on immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neutrophil function in iron-deficient children.
- To assess T and B lymphocyte numbers and responsiveness in iron-deficient children.
- To evaluate secretory IgA levels in children with and without iron deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Studied neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and nitro-blue tetrazolium reduction in 15 children.
- Assessed T and B lymphocyte counts and mitogen responsiveness (phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A) in 28 children.
- Measured salivary IgA levels in all participants.
Main Results:
- Neutrophil functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, NBT reduction) were similar between iron-deficient and control children.
- Numbers of T and B lymphocytes, secretory IgA, serum immunoglobulins, and complement levels were comparable in both groups.
- Lymphocyte transformation response to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A was significantly reduced in children with iron deficiency anaemia.
Conclusions:
- Mild iron deficiency does not appear to compromise basic neutrophil functions or lymphocyte numbers in children.
- Iron deficiency anaemia, specifically, may impair T-cell responsiveness to mitogenic stimulation.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which iron deficiency anaemia affects cellular immunity.
Abstract:
Neutrophil function was studied in a group of 15 children, 7 with iron deficiency (4 with iron deficiency anaemia) and 8 age-matched controls; by clinical and laboratory criteria, all were uninfected. In a second group of 28 children, 14 iron-deficient (6 with iron deficiency anaemia) and 14 controls, numbers of circulating T and B lymphocytes and responsiveness to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A were assessed. Levels of salivary IgA were estimated in every patient. Neutrophil chemotaxis to autologous endotoxin-activated serum and control serum, phagocytosis of Candida albicans and post-phagocytic nitro-blue tetrazolium reduction were similar in both the iron-deficient and control groups. Likewise, levels of secretory IgA, serum immunoglobulins, total haemolytic complement and complement components, and numbers of T and B lymphocytes were comparable in both iron-deficient groups and the control group. However, transformation to both mitogens was reduced in the group with iron deficiency anaemia.