THYMOLYMPHATIC DEFICIENCY AND DEPRESSION OF CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY IN PROTEIN-CALORIE MALNUTRITION

The thymolymphatic system and cell-mediated immunity have been investigated in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Tonsils were decreased in size; the capacity to respond to chemical sensitisation of the skin and the rate of transformation of lymphocytes stimulated with phytohæmagglutinin were significantly impaired; infants' red cells were frequently agglutinated by antisera to serum-complement components, particularly C4, and the hæmolytic serum-complement was reduced. Necropsy studies showed a high proportion of chronic atrophy of the thymus with wasting of peripheral lymphoid tissue and both depletion of paracortical cells and loss of germinal centres. Profound depletion of the thymolymphatic system and severe depression of cell-mediated immunity were demonstrated. It is suggested that this contributes to the type of infection from which many of these children die.