DEPRESSION OF T-CELL FUNCTION AND NORMALITY OF B-CELL RESPONSE IN PROTEIN CALORIE MALNUTRITION

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (3) , 345-350
Abstract
Antibody response to a T[thymus-derived]-cell dependent antigen, sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) and to a B[bone marrow-derived]-cell mitogen, purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS), was studied in mice kept on protein deficient (2 and 4% casein) diets. The number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) to SRBC was 20.5 .+-. 7.7 per 106 spleen cells in protein-deficient animals compared to 216.0 .+-. 31.1 in parallel controls maintained on a protein rich diet (18% casein). No difference was observed in number of PFC formed in controls and deficient animals to LPS; values were 161.4 .+-. 19.7, 158.5 .+-. 14.2, and 162.3 .+-. 31.9 in control (18% casein) and deficient groups (4% and 2% casein), respectively. The delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to SRBC measured in foot pads was significantly lower in mice on 4% casein diet compared to controls. The effect of protein deficiency is probably primarily on T-cell function and not on the B-cell response.