title: Reduced lymphocyte-mediated antifungal capacity in high-risk infants.
abstract: Premature and critically ill infants are highly susceptible to Candida albicans. This study evaluated the lymphocyte-mediated antifungal capacity of infants relative to birth weight, prematurity, and illness severity. Growth inhibition of C. albicans by lymphocytes from preterm and low-birth weight infants was significantly reduced, compared with full-term and normal-weight infants. Lymphocyte growth inhibition of C. albicans is dependent on cell adhesion to the fungus. Compared with full-term infants, lymphocytes from preterm infants had a reduced capacity to adhere to C. albicans. Furthermore, infants with greater severity of illness (score for neonatal acute physiology [SNAP], >or=10) exhibited significantly reduced lymphocyte-mediated antifungal capacity and fungal adhesion. Although gestational age, birth weight, and SNAP were significantly associated with lymphocyte-mediated growth inhibition and adhesion, stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that gestational age best predicted both lymphocyte growth inhibition of and adhesion to the fungus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Child Health, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Witek-Janusek
authors.forename: Maliha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shareef
authors.forename: Herbert L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mathews
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology