Skip to main content
PMC home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1978 Apr;32(1):134–143.

The effects of kwashiorkor serum on lymphocyte transformation in vitro.

D W Beatty, E B Dowdle
PMCID: PMC1541291  PMID: 149622

Abstract

The serum from twelve children with kwashiorkor was deficient in its ability to support lymphocyte transformation in vitro, whereas lymphocytes from these children responded to phytohaemagglutinin and al-ogeneic lymphocytes in a relatively normal manner when cultured in normal serum. This serum abnormality improved with therapy and could not be clearly correlated with the degree of malnutrition, the presence or absence of infection or other laboratory manifestations of kwashiorkor. These observations indicate that defective cellular immune reactions in kwashiorkor may be symptomatic of a lack of some humoral factor and do not necessarily reflect an intrinsic cellular defect.

Full text

PDF
134

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Abbassy A. S., el-Din M. K., Hassan A. I., Aref G. H., Hammad S. A., el-Araby I. I., el-Din A. A., Soliman M. H., Hussein M. Studies of cell-mediated immunity and allergy in protein energy malnutrition. I. Cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity. J Trop Med Hyg. 1974 Jan;77(1):13–17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Alvarado J., Luthringer D. G. Serum immunoglobulins in edematous protein--calorie malnourished children. Studies in Guatemalan children at INCAP. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1971 Mar;10(3):174–179. doi: 10.1177/000992287101000319. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Arbeter A., Echeverri L., Franco D., Munson D., Velez H., Vitale J. J. Nutrition and infection. Fed Proc. 1971 Jul-Aug;30(4):1421–1428. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BROWN R. E., KATZ M. ANTIGENIC STIMULATION IN UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN. East Afr Med J. 1965 May;42:221–232. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bang B. G., Mahalanabis D., Mukherjee K. L., Bang F. B. T and B lymphocyte rosetting in undernourished children. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1975 May;149(1):199–202. doi: 10.3181/00379727-149-38772. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bhaskaram C., Reddy V. Cell mediated immunity in protein-calorie malnutrition. J Trop Pediatr Environ Child Health. 1974 Dec;20(6):284–286. doi: 10.1093/tropej/20.6.284. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bowie M. D., Barbezat G. O., Hansen J. D. Carbohydrate absorption in malnourished children. Am J Clin Nutr. 1967 Feb;20(2):89–97. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/20.2.89. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Boyum A. Separation of blood leucocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes. Tissue Antigens. 1974;4(4):269–274. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Burgess B. J., Vos G. H., Coovadia H. M., Smythe P. M., Parent M. A., Loening W. E. Radio-isotopic assessment of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with protein calorie malnutrition. S Afr Med J. 1974 Sep 11;48(44):1870–1872. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Chandra R. K. Immunocompetence in undernutrition. J Pediatr. 1972 Dec;81(6):1194–1200. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(72)80262-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Chandra R. K. Rosette-forming T lymphocytes and cell-mediated immunity in malnutrition. Br Med J. 1974 Sep 7;3(5931):608–609. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5931.608. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Chandra R. K. Serum complement and immunoconglutinin in malnutrition. Arch Dis Child. 1975 Mar;50(3):225–229. doi: 10.1136/adc.50.3.225. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Coovadia H. M., Parent M. A., Loening W. E., Wesley A., Burgess B., Hallett F., Brain P., Grace J., Naidoo J., Smythe P. M. An evaluation of factors associated with the depression of immunity in malnutrition and in measles. Am J Clin Nutr. 1974 Jun;27(6):665–669. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/27.6.665. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Douglas S. D., Schopfer K. Phagocyte function in protein-calorie malnutrition. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 May;17(1):121–128. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Du Bois M. G., Huismans D. R., Schellekens P. T., Eijsvoogel V. P. Investigation and standardization of the conditions for micro-lymphocyte cultures. Tissue Antigens. 1973;3(5):402–409. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.1973.tb00510.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Edelman R., Suskind R., Olson R. E., Sirisinha S. Mechanisms of defective delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Lancet. 1973 Mar 10;1(7802):506–508. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90326-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ferguson A. C., Lawlor G. J., Jr, Neumann C. G., Oh W., Stiehm E. R. Decreased rosette-forming lymphocytes in malnutrition and intrauterine growth retardation. J Pediatr. 1974 Nov;85(5):717–723. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(74)80527-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Geefhuysen J., Rosen E. U., Katz J., Ipp T., Metz J. Impaired cellular immunity in kwashiorkor with improvement after therapy. Br Med J. 1971 Nov 27;4(5786):527–529. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5786.527. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Grace H. J., Armstrong D., Smythe P. M. Reduced lymphocyte transformation in protein calorie malnutrition. S Afr Med J. 1972 Apr 1;46(14):402–403. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. HARLAND P. S., BROWN R. E. TUBERCULIN SENSITIVITY FOLLOWING B.C.G. VACCINATION IN UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN. East Afr Med J. 1965 May;42:233–238. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Heyworth B., Moore D. L., Brown J. Depression of lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin in the presence of plasma from children with acute protein energy malnutrition. Clin Exp Immunol. 1975 Oct;22(1):72–77. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Keet M. P., Thom H. Serum immunoglobulins in kwashiorkor. Arch Dis Child. 1969 Oct;44(237):600–603. doi: 10.1136/adc.44.237.600. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Lloyd A. V. Tuberculin test in children with malnutrition. Br Med J. 1968 Aug 31;3(5617):529–531. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5617.529. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. McFarlane H., Reddy S., Cooke A., Longe O., Onabamiro M. O., Houba J. E. Immunoglobulins, transferrin, caeruloplasmin and heterophile antibodies in kwashiorkor. Trop Geogr Med. 1970 Mar;22(1):61–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Moore D. L., Heyworth B., Brown J. PHA-induced lymphocyte transformations in leucocyte cultures from malarious, malnourished and control Gambian children. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 Aug;17(4):647–656. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Mugerwa J. W. The lymphoreticular system in Kwashiorkor. J Pathol. 1971 Oct;105(2):105–109. doi: 10.1002/path.1711050204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Neumann C. G., Lawlor G. J., Jr, Stiehm E. R., Swenseid M. E., Newton C., Herbert J., Ammann A. J., Jacob M. Immunologic responses in malnourished children. Am J Clin Nutr. 1975 Feb;28(2):89–104. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/28.2.89. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Orren A., Dowdle E. B. The effects of sex and age on serum IgE concentrations in three ethnic groups. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1975;48(6):824–835. doi: 10.1159/000231370. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. PRETORIUS P. J., DAVEL J. G., COETZEE J. N. Some observations on the development of kwashiorkor; a study of 205 cases. S Afr Med J. 1956 Apr 28;30(17):396–399. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. PRETORIUS P. J., DE VILLIERS L. S. Antibody response in children with protein malnutrition. Am J Clin Nutr. 1962 May;10:379–383. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/10.5.379. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Phillips I., Wharton B. Acute bacterial infection in kwashiorkor and marasmus. Br Med J. 1968 Feb 17;1(5589):407–409. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5589.407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Purtilo D. T., Connor D. H. Fatal infections in protein-calorie malnourished children with thymolymphatic atrophy. Arch Dis Child. 1975 Feb;50(2):149–152. doi: 10.1136/adc.50.2.149. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. REDDY V., SRIKANTIA S. G. ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN KWASHIORKOR. Indian J Med Res. 1964 Nov;52:1154–1158. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Rosen E. U., Geefhuysen J., Anderson R., Joffe M., Rabson A. R. Leucocyte function in children with kwashiorkor. Arch Dis Child. 1975 Mar;50(3):220–224. doi: 10.1136/adc.50.3.220. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Rosen E. U., Geefhuysen J., Ipp T. Immunoglobulin levels in protein calorie malnutrition. S Afr Med J. 1971 Sep 4;45(35):980–982. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. SMYTHE P. M. Changes in intestinal bacterial flora and role of infection in kwashiorkor. Lancet. 1958 Oct 4;2(7049):724–727. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(58)91336-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Schlesinger L., Stekel A. Impaired cellular immunity in marasmic infants. Am J Clin Nutr. 1974 Jun;27(6):615–620. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/27.6.615. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Schopfer K., Douglas S. D. In vitro studies of lymphocytes from children with kwashiorkor. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1976 Jan;5(1):21–30. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(76)90146-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Sellmeyer E., Bhettay E., Truswell A. S., Meyers O. L., Hansen J. D. Lymphocyte transformation in malnourished children. Arch Dis Child. 1972 Jun;47(253):429–435. doi: 10.1136/adc.47.253.429. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Selvaraj R. J., Bhat K. S. [Metabolic and bactericidal activities of leukocytes in protein-calorie malnutrition]. Am J Clin Nutr. 1972 Feb;25(2):166–174. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/25.2.166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Seth V., Chandra R. K. Opsonic activity, phagocytosis, and bactericidal capacity of polymorphs in undernutrition. Arch Dis Child. 1972 Apr;47(252):282–284. doi: 10.1136/adc.47.252.282. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Sirisinha S., Edelman R., Suskind R., Charupatana C., Olson R. E. Complement and C3-proactivator levels in children with protein-calorie malnutrition and effect of dietary treatment. Lancet. 1973 May 12;1(7811):1016–1020. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90663-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Smythe P. M., Brereton-Stiles G. G., Grace H. J., Mafoyane A., Schonland M., Coovadia H. M., Loening W. E., Parent M. A., Vos G. H. Thymolymphatic deficiency and depression of cell-mediated immunity in protein-calorie malnutrition. Lancet. 1971 Oct 30;2(7731):939–943. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90267-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Suskind R., Sirishinha S., Vithayasai V., Edelman R., Damrongsak D., Charupatana C., Olson R. E. Immunoglobulins and antibody response in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Am J Clin Nutr. 1976 Aug;29(8):836–841. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/29.8.836. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. TEJADA C., ARGUETA V., SANCHEZ M., ALBERTAZZI C. PHAGOCYTIC AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY OF LEUKOCYTES IN KWASHIORKOR. J Pediatr. 1964 May;64:753–761. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(64)80625-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Watson C. E., Freesemann C. Immunoglobulins in protein-calorie malnutrition. Arch Dis Child. 1970 Apr;45(240):282–284. doi: 10.1136/adc.45.240.282. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Watts T. Thymus weights in malnourished children. J Trop Pediatr (1967) 1969 Dec;15(4):155–158. doi: 10.1093/tropej/15.4.155. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. el-Gholmy A., Hashish S., Helmy O., Aly R. H., el-Gamal Y. A study of immunoglobulins in kwashiorkor. J Trop Med Hyg. 1970 Aug;73(8):192–195. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. el-Molla A., el-Ghoroury A., Hussein M., Badr-el-Din M. K., Hassen A. H., Aref G. H., el-Araby I. Antibody production in protein calorie malnutrition. J Trop Med Hyg. 1973 Sep;76(9):248–250. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES