Cell-mediated immune status of children with recurrent infection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cell-mediated immune status of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.


METHODS
We evaluated the cell-mediated immune status of 76 patients referred because of recurrent infection. Patients were divided into those with serologic abnormalities and those without such findings. Twenty-three healthy children served as control subjects. Studies of lymphocyte phenotype included CD4+ CD29+ cells (an immunologically mature phenotype), lymphocyte proliferation studies, cytokine production including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, and interferon gamma), and measurement of in vitro IgM and IgG synthesis.


RESULTS
Lymphocyte proliferation and T-cell phenotype were similar in both patient groups as well as in control subjects. The proportions of CD4+ CD29+ cells at different ages were similar in all groups. Patients with serologic abnormalities (e.g., partial IgA deficiency, partial IgG subclass deficiency) produced more IL-2 and IL-4 than did other patients. The control population had greater spontaneous IgM and IgG synthesis than the patient groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine studies of T-cell function of patients with recurrent infection provide little information useful in making clinical decisions.
Herrod
H G
HG
Crippled Children's Foundation Research Center, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163, USA.
Blaiss
M S
MS
Valenski
W R
WR
Gross
S
S
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma