title: Protein starvation impairs the ability of activated lymphocytes to produce interferon-gamma.
abstract: The impairment of lymphocyte function in nutritionally deprived rats was studied. Lymphocytes from rats fed a diet lacking protein showed a severe decrease in their ability to proliferate when stimulated with mitogens. This was accompanied by a dramatic inhibition of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and a lesser decrease in the release of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Analysis of RNA levels by Northern blot hybridization confirmed that lymphocytes from protein-starved rats had lower levels of mRNAs for IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-2 receptor than those from control animals. Protein deprivation therefore leads to a modification of lymphocyte function such that IFN-gamma production in particular is severely impaired.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mengheri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crocchioni
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013217:Starvation / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma