Leukocyte membrane receptors in meningitis and other bacterial infections.
Blood leukocytes from 37 patients with acute bacterial infections, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) granulocytes from 12 patients with bacterial meningitis, were examined for the distribution of membrane receptors (R) for (1) untreated sheep erythrocytes (E), (2) the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma), and (3) complement component C3b. We found a decreased percentage of granulocytes bearing Fc gamma-R in the CSF from patients with meningitis, and in blood from patients with respiratory tract infections. This group also had a decreased percentage of C3b-R bearing granulocytes on admission, whereas meningitis patients had lower levels of C3b-R and Fc gamma-R bearing granulocytes in the 2nd and 3rd week and even later. Several patients with meningitis and gastroenteritis had granulocytes bearing the E-R, previously considered specific for T lymphocytes. Such cells were also found in the CSF. Meningitis and respiratory tract infections were associated with a decreased percentage of 'active' T lymphocytes. The total percentage of T lymphocytes was also decreased in meningitis. Conversely the proportion of Fc gamma-R bearing lymphocytes (consisting mostly of B lymphocytes) was increased in most infections. During the first 3 weeks of bacterial meningitis, the percentages of Fc gamma- and C3b-R bearing granulocytes, and of Fc gamma-R bearing lymphocytes, gradually decreased, while the T lymphocyte percentage increased from the initial low values.
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000276:immunology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008581:Meningitis / Q000276:immunology*; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000276:immunology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011946:Receptors, Antigen; D011951:Receptors, Complement