title: Impact of anorexia nervosa on activation characteristics of lymphocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anorexia nervosa (AN), a disease of chronic human starvation has a deep impact on the function of several organ systems. We hypothesized that disturbed cellular activation may contribute to complications in AN. We tested our assumption on short-term activation kinetics of lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was taken from 11 AN and 10 healthy adolescents. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and CD4+ lymphocytes were then activated with phythohemagglutinin for the determination of calcium-influx and membrane potential. Moreover, cells were also activated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 coated beads and three days after the prevalence of interleukin-2 positive CD4+ cells were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After activation, more time was required to reach maximal calcium content in CD4+ cells of AN patients than in those of controls (control vs. AN (median, range): 86 [45-232] vs. 215 [59-235] second, p<0.05), but the rate of membrane potential alteration was similar. The number of interleukin 2 positive CD4+ cells was lower in AN (11.50 [7.60-15.30] vs. 13.50 [12.00-22.00] %, p<0.05). No association was detected between cell activation and any of clinical or anthropometric data of AN patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that AN may have an impact on calcium handling of the cells and, hence, cell activation characteristics. We assume that altered calcium flux kinetics may contribute to complications present in AN.
authors: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Bea
authors: B
authors: Pászthy
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Svec
authors: Ferenc
authors: F
authors: Túry
authors: László
authors: L
authors: Kovács
authors: Barna
authors: B
authors: Vásárhelyi
authors: Tivadar
authors: T
authors: Tulassay
authors: András
authors: A
authors: Treszl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D002118:Calcium