title: Decreased interleukin-2 production from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells in human acute starvation.
abstract: Depressed cell-mediated immunity and decreased insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are observed in malnourished humans. To study the interaction among nutrition, IGF-I, and cytokines, healthy volunteers (six men and four women, aged 21-38 yr, weighing 93-124% of ideal body weight) were subjected to a 7-day fast (mineral water only). Fasting steadily decreased serum IGF-I from 247 +/- 29 (prefast) to 87 +/- 10 ng/mL (postfast; P < 0.0001), total T cells (CD3+) from 1499 +/- 68 to 1308 +/- 70 x 10(9) (P < 0.0001), and T helper cells (CD4+) from 997 +/- 62 to 856 +/- 55 x 10(9) (P < 0.001). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and cultured in serum-free RPMI 1640 for 24 h. Fasting attenuated peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of interleukin-2 in response to various concentrations of phytohemagglutinin P [PHA-P; 347 +/- 48 (prefast) vs. 135 +/- 52 pg/mL (postfast) when challenged with 3 micrograms/mL PHA-P; P < 0.005 when comparing dose-response curves (1-100 micrograms/mL PHA-P)]. Although the approximately 3-fold suppression of interleukin-2 and IGF-I in subjects fasted for 1 week is not likely to affect immune function significantly, our results with this short term model of nutrient restriction provide insight into possible mechanisms for immune suppression in chronic starvation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA. lars.savendahl@histocel.umu.se
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sävendahl
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Underwood
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013217:Starvation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; C028784:phytohemagglutinin-P; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I