title: Modulation of cellular immunity in malnutrition: effect of interleukin 1 on suppressor T cell activity.
abstract: T-lymphocyte mitogenesis is impaired in protein-energy malnutrition. The effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on the augmentation of suppressor cell activity during concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was measured using IL-1 and lymphocytes from protein malnourished and control rabbits. Addition of IL-1 to lymphocyte cultures from control donors enhanced the suppression of fresh lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Addition of IL-1 to lymphocyte cultures from malnourished donors abrograted the suppressor cell activity. Isoelectric focusing showed the presence of a protein band with a pI of about 7.0 in the IL-1 supernatants from protein malnourished and control donors. The results suggest that severe protein malnutrition alters the ability of T-lymphocytes to respond appropriately to IL-1 rather than simply affecting synthesis of this monokine.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D003208:Concanavalin A