Transformation of lymphocytes in patients with certain bacterial infections

Med Microbiol Immunol. 1975 Sep 19;161(4):273-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02122715.

Abstract

The state of cell-mediated immunity was measured by the morphological method of lymphocyte transformation with and without PHA, in a group of 56 patients with bacterial infections and in a group of healthy controls. The patients were divided into three subgroups according to the aetiology: 1. Patients with Gram-positive infections, 2. Patients with Gram-negative infections, and 3. mixed infections. The transformation values with PHA were significantly (t-test) higher in the Gram-positive subgroups than in the control group. Transformation in cultures stimulated by PHA was much higher in the subgroup of patients with Gram-positive aetiology; the difference between the values in the Gram-negative and in the Gram-positive subgroups was also significant. A decrease of transformation value below 50% was observed in 6 out of 18 patients with Gram-negative aetiology, whereas in the Gram-positive group it was noted in only 2 out of 21 patients.

MeSH terms

  • Escherichia coli Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Lectins / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Activation* / drug effects
  • Proteus Infections / immunology*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / immunology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Lectins