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Deficiency of immunological and phagocytic function in aboriginal children with protein-calorie malnutrition
Insights
Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) in young Aboriginal children impairs immune resistance, particularly T-lymphocyte function and neutrophil activity. This immune deficiency contributes to the high prevalence of infections in these communities.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Infection is a significant health issue for Aboriginal children, often linked to protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM).
- Clinical observations suggest impaired immune resistance in these children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess systemic immune resistance in young Aboriginal children with varying degrees of PCM.
- To identify specific immune function deficiencies associated with malnutrition.
Main Methods:
- Children were categorized into moderately malnourished, previously malnourished, and normally nourished groups based on anthropometric criteria.
- Evaluated numbers and functions of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and neutrophils.
- Assessed primary antigen recognition, blastogenic response, serum opsonin, C3, immunoglobulin levels, and neutrophil functions (chemotaxis, metabolic response, bactericidal activity).
Main Results:
- Malnourished groups showed significantly impaired T-lymphocyte antigen recognition and blastogenic response.
- Neutrophil chemotaxis, metabolic response to phagocytosis, and intraphagocytic bactericidal activity were relatively impaired in malnourished children.
- Numbers of T and B lymphocytes, secondary antibody response to tetanus toxoid, serum opsonin, C3, immunoglobulin levels, and neutrophil phagocytic activity were normal or increased across all groups.
Conclusions:
- Moderate or lasting effects of protein-calorie malnutrition lead to multiple deficiencies in the immune defense mechanism.
- These immune deficiencies likely contribute to the high prevalence, chronicity, and mortality of infectious diseases in Aboriginal communities.
Abstract:
Infection, associated with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), is a widespread and important health problem in young Aboriginal children. Clinical obervations have suggested these children to have impaired immune resistance to infection. Children were fivided by anthropometric criteria into three groups: moderately malnourished; showing effects of previous PCM; normally nourished. Numbers and function of T and B lymphocytes and neutrophils were measured in these groups to give an assessment of systemic immune resistance. Primary antigen recognition and blastogenic response of T-lymphocytes were significantly impaired in the malnourished groups. Normal or increased numbers of B and T lymphocytes, and normal secondary antibody response to tetanus toxoid inoculations were found in all groups. Serum opsonin levels, C3 concentrations, immunoglobulin levels, neutrophil numbers and phagocytic activity were normal or increased in all groups. The malnourished children showed relative impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis, metabolic response to phagocytosis and intraphagocytic bactericidal activity. The findings suggested that children with moderate or lasting effects of PCM had multiple dificiencies in the funnction of their immune defence mechanism which may profoundly influence the prevalence, chronicity and mortality of infections diseases in Aboriginal communities.