Lymphocyte changes in favism: in vitro evidence of a modifying effect of bilirubin and hemoglobin on T-lymphocyte receptors.
Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 13 Sicilian glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient children during and after the hemolytic crisis due to fava bean ingestion. A statistically significant reduction of sheep-red-cell (SRC)-rosetting lymphocytes occurred in all patients during the hemolytic crisis, whereas B lymphocytes were not affected. In order to establish the possible relationship between serum changes occurring during hemolysis and reduction of SRC-rosetting lymphocytes, the effect in vitro of varying concentrations of bilirubin and hemoglobin on the rosette formation capacity of lymphocytes was studied. Both substances produced a statistically significant reduction of SRC-rosetting lymphocytes both in normal and deficient subjects. This effect showed a direct relationship with the concentrations of bilirubin and hemoglobin used and was more pronounced on lymphocytes from G6PD-deficient children. These data suggested that the reduction of SRC-rosetting lymphocytes observed during acute hemolysis of favism can be related to a modifying effect of bilirubin and hemoglobin.
D001663:Bilirubin / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005236:Favism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000502:physiology*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D001663:Bilirubin