concanavalin-a and Protein-Energy-Malnutrition

T-lymphocyte mitogenesis is impaired in protein-energy malnutrition. The effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on the augmentation of suppressor cell activity during concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was measured using IL-1 and lymphocytes from protein malnourished and control rabbits. Addition of IL-1 to lymphocyte cultures from control donors enhanced the suppression of fresh lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Addition of IL-1 to lymphocyte cultures from malnourished donors abrograted the suppressor cell activity. Isoelectric focusing showed the presence of a protein band with a pI of about 7.0 in the IL-1 supernatants from protein malnourished and control donors. The results suggest that severe protein malnutrition alters the ability of T-lymphocytes to respond appropriately to IL-1 rather than simply affecting synthesis of this monokine.

Topics: Animals; Concanavalin A; Immunity, Cellular; Interleukin-1; Isoelectric Focusing; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rabbits; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Six-week-old C57B1/6 female mice were fed a normal (24% protein) or an isocaloric but protein-deficient (4% protein) diet. At different time periods after the initiation of diets, basal natural killer (NK) activity, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and concanavalin-A (Con-A)-induced cytotoxic activity, Con-A-induced IL-2 production and levels of allospecific cytotoxic T cell activity generated in a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), were studied in spleen cells derived from control and protein deficient (PD) mice. Results indicated that (a) levels of spleen NK activity increased initially in PD mice, but after 7 weeks on PD diet declined to normal and subnormal levels, (b) IL-2 generation in response to Con-A as well as IL-2 activation of NK activity were comparable in spleen cells of control and PD mice at all time points tested, (c) Con-A-induced cytotoxic activity was significantly greater in spleen cells from PD mice, the difference being greater at higher doses of Con-A, and (d) generation of alloimmune cytotoxic T cells in a MLC reaction was normal in PD mouse spleen cells until 4 weeks after the beginning of PD diet, but declined markedly thereafter. Relevance of these observations to other related findings in protein calorie malnutrition are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Interleukin-2; Killer Cells, Natural; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Patients with most forms of protein-calorie malnutrition are typically more susceptible to infection. We studied the immunological consequences of a subgroup of malnourished subjects--nine patients with anorexia nervosa, who typically have a lower incidence of infection. The profiles of the patients with anorexia nervosa deviated from the reported typical profile of significantly depressed cell-mediated immunity in subjects with more common forms of protein-calorie malnutrition, demonstrating normal T-lymphocyte populations and unimpaired proliferative lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogenic stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. In fact, mitogen responsiveness was significantly elevated above that of controls, and with nutritional repletion, this enhanced responsiveness regressed toward control values. Since impaired cell-mediated immunity has been consistently documented in other malnourished populations, and presumably contributes to their increased propensity toward infection, the maintenance of a relatively intact cell-mediated immune system may be an important factor separating the malnourished anorexia nervosa patient from other protein-calorie malnourished patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anorexia Nervosa; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Infections; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Phytohemagglutinins; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Skin Tests; T-Lymphocytes

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cell Count; Cell Division; Cell Movement; Concanavalin A; Dietary Proteins; Lymph Nodes; Lymphocytes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phytohemagglutinins; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Spleen; Thymus Gland; Time Factors