NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF NK-CELLS ARE DECREASED IN GROWTH HORMONE-DEFICIENT ADULTS

Snell-Bagg mice and Ames dwarf mice repeatedly show severe immunodefic iencies, affecting mostly the thymus-dependent lymphocyte system, prob ably caused by growth hormone deficiency. In growth hormone-deficient children contradictory data on the immune status have been reported. W e investigated indices of cellular immunity in 22 adult patients with proven growth hormone deficiency in comparison to those in 100 healthy volunteers. Cellular immunity was assessed using total leukocyte coun t, percentage lymphocytes, and percentage and absolute numbers of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, and CD3(-)CD56(+) (NK)-cells. Comparison revealed sta tistically significantly lower percentage and absolute number of NK-ce lls (P < 0.001). Except for a trend toward an increased CD4/CD8 ratio, no statistically significant differences for B- and T-lymphocytes cou ld be observed. No correlation between the percentage and absolute num ber of NK-cells, on one hand, and the duration of growth hormone defic iency or prolactin level, on the other hand, could be demonstrated. In all these respects men did not differ from women. So, in growth hormo ne-deficient adults the percentage and absolute number Of NK-cells are decreased. (C) 1996 Academic Press Inc.