Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024312 (lymphopenia)
 4,859 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A study of leucocyte response to infection, polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis and bactericidal activity, and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction in children with kwashiorkor was undertaken and compared with a control group. The results show that total leucocyte counts were depressed in children with kwashiorkor, and lymphopenia was not infrequent. NBT reduction was normal. Abnormal polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis and bactericidal activity, though frequently found in children with kwashiorkor, was shown to be dependent on infection and not on protein depletion per se. Therefore, apart from some impairment of leucocyte mobilization in the presence of infection, the qualtiy of polymorphonuclear function, as determined by the above techniques, appears to be normal in kwashiorkor.
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PMID:Leucocyte function in children with kwashiorkor. 114 55

Defense mechanisms employed by the host to fight infection are highly dependent on adequate protein synthesis to support phagocytic and lymphoid cell activity as well as immunoglobulin production. Interleukin I is a small, not yet fully characterized protein produced by macrophages which appears to initiate most of the nonspecific metabolic changes observed during infection. These alterations include: increase in the synthesis of visceral proteins, white blood cells, and acute phase globulins; enhanced somatic protein breakdown; sequestering of serum iron and zinc in the liver; and induction of fever. The ability of leukocytes to produce interleukin I is impaired in patients with visceral protein depletion or kwashiorkor-like, hypoalbuminemic malnutrition and can be restored in the healthy unstressed patient within approximately three to five days by feeding. Similarly, in the stressed patient, adequate protein and caloric intake improves the ability to produce interleukin I, which may improve survival. Other defects in host defense in advanced stages of protein malnutrition include lymphopenia, impaired phagocytosis, and deficiencies in fibronectin, immunoglobulins, and complement levels. Thus, the goal of nutritional support is to maintain sufficient amounts of amino acids for visceral protein synthesis required for adequate host defense.
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PMID:Goals of nutritional support in acute infections. 642 3