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The transformation in vitro of peripheral lymphocytes of malnourished children
F A Chowdhury1, R A Miah, M Begum
1Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College.
Insights
Children with severe malnutrition exhibit impaired cellular immunity, specifically a reduced lymphocyte transformation response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). This indicates a significant depression in cell-mediated immunity in malnourished children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a significant global health issue affecting children.
- Cellular immunity plays a crucial role in defending the body against infections, particularly in vulnerable populations like malnourished children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional status of T lymphocytes in children with varying degrees of malnutrition.
- To assess the impact of protein energy malnutrition on cell-mediated immunity using in-vitro lymphocyte proliferation assays.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from severely malnourished children and healthy controls.
- Lymphocyte transformation was stimulated using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA).
- The proliferative response (PR) was quantified by measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation into newly synthesized DNA.
Main Results:
- Severely malnourished children demonstrated significantly lower PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation compared to healthy controls (P < 0.01).
- The in-vitro proliferative response to PHA served as a reliable marker for T lymphocyte function in this cohort.
- These findings indicate a gross depression of cell-mediated immunity in children with severe malnutrition.
Conclusions:
- Protein energy malnutrition severely impairs cellular immunity in children.
- Reduced T lymphocyte function, as evidenced by diminished PHA response, is a key characteristic of malnutrition-associated immune deficiency.
- These immunological deficits likely contribute to the increased susceptibility to infections observed in malnourished children.
Abstract:
Children with protein energy malnutrition showed high deranged cellular immunity as evidenced by impairment of lymphocyte transformation after stimulation by phytohaemagglutination (PHA). The proliferative response (PR) to PHA measured by estimating incorporation of tritiated thymidine into newly synthesized DNA. In-vitro proliferative response to PHA was used as a marker for studying the functional characteristics of T lymphocytes of children with different categories of malnutrition. PHA response of peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from different categories of severely malnourished children were significantly low compared to healthy control children (P < 0.01). The results indicate that cell mediated immunity was grossly depressed in severe malnutrition.