The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in an infant with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia.
Authors analysed in an infant with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and the distribution of T lymphocyte subpopulations in the jejunal mucosa with immunohistochemical methods. It was established that the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and of the cells belonging to the various T lymphocytes markedly decreased in the patient compared to controls, however the decrease of the CD4 cells was less than that of CD8 cells, thus the CD4/CD8 ratio increased. Authors conclude that the increase of CD4/CD8 ratio in the jejunal mucosa may explain the absence of frequent gut infections in intestinal lymphangiectasia.
Arató
A
A
First Department of Paediatrics, Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, Hungary.
Savilahti
E
E
Balogh
L
L
D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008201:Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets