ELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF PLASMATIC AND LYMPHOCYTE SECRETED PROTEINS IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) causes an altered immune response i n children. The aim of our work was to analyse the electrophoretic pat terns of plasma proteins and proteins secreted by cultured lymphocytes of children with maramus type PCM, and compare them with those of hea lthy, well-nourished children. Our intention was to search for the pre sence of inhibiting factors, or the absence of other necessary factors (cytokines) to yield a normal cell-mediated immune response. Plasma p rotein concentrations were significantly higher in well-nourished as c ompared to malnourished children, and the electrophoretic patterns of these proteins were basically homogeneous. On the other hand, protein concentration was significantly lower in conditioned medium from malno urished children, but conditioned medium electrophoretic patterns did not differ between malnourished and well-nourished children. This indi cates that the immune system impairment observed in PCM children may b e related not to a fall in the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes but mainly to the altered physiology of lymphocytes. These are unable to secrete normal quantities of cytokines, which mediate and regulate the diffentiation, activation and proliferation of leucocytes to achie ve an adequate immunological function.