title: Defective regulation of immune responses in respiratory syncytial virus infection.
abstract: The relationship of suppressor cell numbers and function to virus-specific IgE response was determined in 72 infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Monoclonal antibodies to membrane antigens were used to enumerate OKT4 and OKT8 antigen-positive cells, and suppressor cell function as quantitated by the degree of suppression of lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by incubation of lymphocyte cultures with histamine. Patients with bronchiolitis had fewer OKT8-positive cells during convalescence than patients with other forms of illness due to RSV (p less than 0.05). An inverse correlation of OKT8-positive cell numbers and peak IgE titers was observed (p less than 0.01). Histamine-induced suppression was also reduced in patients with bronchiolitis (p less than 0.05). In patients with repeated infection, improved histamine-induced suppression was associated with reduced virus-specific IgE titers and the absence of wheezing. Defects in immunoregulation may underlie previously recognized immunologic and pharmacologic abnormalities in patients with bronchiolitis.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000276:immunology; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003289:Convalescence; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine