In Vitro Lymphocyte Functions in Undernourished Children With Sickle Cell Anemia Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.31486/toj.19.0024 PMID: 32612469 Web of Science: 000543397700010

Cited authors

  • Kuvibidila, Solo R.; Gardner, Renee; Velez, Maria C.; Yu, Lolie; Warrier, Rajasekharan P.

Abstract

  • Background: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) often suffer from growth deficits and impaired immunity. However, the association between mild to moderate malnutrition and in vitro lymphocyte function has not been well studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of undernutrition on lymphocyte functions in children with SCD.; Methods: Weight; height; plasma concentrations of albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (Tf), retinol-binding protein (RBP), alpha(1)-glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and ceruloplasmin (Cp); and lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin (IL)-2 in phytohemagglutinin-treated blood lymphocytes were measured in 90 children with SCD (59 SS, 4 S beta degrees, 27 SC hemoglobin genotypes).; Results: The mean age of the children included in the analysis was 7.65 years. Four of the 90 children had weight and height below the fifth percentile. A higher percentage of children with HbSS/HbS beta degrees (61.4%) than of those with HbSC (44%) had >= 2 plasma protein concentrations below normal (Alb <35 g/L, PA <160 mg/L, Tf <2.0 g/L, and RBP <= 20 mg/L). Mean anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were lower in children with HbSS/HbS beta degrees than in those with HbSC (P< 0.05). Lymphocyte proliferation was reduced by 20% to 27% in children with HbSS/HbS beta degrees with undernutrition plus inflammation (AGP >1 g/L, CRP >5 mg/L, Cp >600 mg/L) compared to children with neither. Regardless of inflammatory status, lymphocyte proliferation was reduced by 29% to 49% in children with HbSS/HbS beta degrees and undernutrition defined by PA or Alb plus RBP (P<0.05) compared to those with RBP within normal range. Neither undernutrition nor inflammation reduced lymphocyte proliferation in children with HbSC. Mean IL-2 activity was reduced by undernutrition, defined as PA <160 mg/L, in both groups. PA, RBP, and hemoglobin concentrations positively correlated with in vitro lymphocyte functions (P< 0.05).; Conclusion: Undernutrition altered in vitro lymphocyte function in children with the HbSS/HbS beta degrees genotypes. Dietary supplements may improve the altered functions in these children.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2020

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1524-5012

Start page

  • 151

End page

  • 160

Volume

  • 20

Issue

  • 2