Effect of iron deficiency on the mitogen-induced proliferative response of rat lymphocytes.
To delineate the alterations of the immune function induced by iron deficiency male Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained at 3 weeks of age and fed an iron-deficient diet. By the end of the 3rd week on this diet the animals were anemic and ferropenic. A marked increase in the proliferative response of splenic lymphocytes at optimal doses of mitogen (PHA, Con A, and PWM) was observed. On the contrary, thymic lymphocytes showed a decreased proliferative response. Time-course experiments demonstrated significant alterations in these proliferative responses after only 1 week of iron deprivation, at a time when the level of hemoglobin was normal. Nutritional rehabilitation after 5 weeks of iron deprivation showed complete recovery of the response after 11/2 weeks on normal diet.
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007501:Iron