Cellular immunity and T-lymphocyte subsets in young children with acute measles.
The changes occurring in the T-cell subsets during acute symptomatic measles were examined in ten malnourished and 18 well nourished hospitalized children younger than 5 years of age (median age 14 months). A significant decrease in total lymphocyte count was observed, which was due mainly to a decrease in helper/inducer T lymphocytes, whereas the suppressor/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte subset remained unchanged. Consequently, helper/suppressor ratio decreased significantly during the acute phase of the disease. A reduced response to mitogens (PHA, Con A, PWM) was also observed. Malnourished infants showed a trend toward a deeper depression in both helper and suppressor T cells during the acute phase than well nourished children, whereas the helper/suppressor ratio remained similar in the two groups.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology