Abstract
Abnormalities in phagocyte function occur in protein calorie malnutrition (PCM). We have compared in vitro random motility (RM), chemotactic response (CR) to the synthetic oligopeptide N-formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (fMLP), and bactericidal activity (BA) in vitro using type Ic group B streptococcus (GBS) in a rat model of PCM. Pregnant Wistar rats at 14 days gestation received either a normal (23.4% protein), or low (2.5% protein) diet until delivery (day 21) and during the subsequent 21 day period of lactation. Control and low protein pups were studied on day 21. Alveolar Macrophages (AM) were prepared by lavage and peritoneal macrophages (PM) were harvested 48 hours following installation of 1% glycogen in 0.85% NaCL (5cc/100 gms). RM and CR were measured in nucleopore chambers. BA was studied using GBS and 10% human serum at 60 and 120 minutes. RM of human neutrophils (87%) was greater than adult rat (47%) or pup (19%) PM, and adult rat (15%) or pup (8%) AM. Malnutrition did not affect RM. Similarly, CR for PM was not affected by malnutrition. AM demonstrated little CR to fMLP. BA of rat pups was similar for AM and PM at 120 min. (42% killing), whereas in PCM, AM and PM showed diminished BA (22-27%) at 120 min. Impaired host defense in neonatal PCM may be related to blunted microbicidal activity.
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Harris, M., Gerdes, J., Polin, R. et al. MACROPHAGE FUNCTION IN NEONATAL PROTEIN CALORIE MALNUTRITION IN RATS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 198 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00631
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00631
