Lymphocyte subpopulations in human malnutrition: cytotoxic and suppressor cells.
Lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of young children with protein-calorie undernutrition were evaluated for surface markers and function. Thymus-dependent lymphocytes were reduced and the immunoglobulin-bearing B lymphocytes were unchanged. The relative proportion of the remaining "null" lymphoid cells was increased. Null cells and, to a lesser extent, B lymphocytes showed cytotoxic activity against xenogeneic target cells and suppressed phytohemagglutinin-induced DNA synthesis by normal T lymphocytes. It is suggested that these alterations in lymphoid subpopulations contribute to depressed cell-mediated immunity in malnutrition.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D007223:Infant; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D004247:DNA