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Malnutrition and immunological function with special reference to cell‐mediated immunity
Author(s) -
HoffmanGoetz Laurie
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330290506
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , immunity , malnutrition , biology , cellular immunity , disease , micronutrient , medicine , pathology
Malnutrition, and especially undernutrition, is the most common cause of acquired immune dysfunction worldwide. Establishing a cause‐effect relationship among nutritional variables, immunological function, and disease susceptibility has proved to be difficult. In this review, the degree to which macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies affect cell‐mediated immunity and immunoregulation is discussed. The evidence for malnutrition‐immune response linkages is grouped according to in vitro studies of thymus gland morphology and function, peripheral T‐lymphocyte number and responsiveness to antigens, and soluble immunoregulatory mediators, and in vivo studies of delayed hypersensitivity, graft rejection, and cytotoxicty. Limitations of these studies are considered in light of disease resistance/susceptibility to pathogens that evoke cell‐mediated immune responses.