Altered cellular immune functions in patients with Down's syndrome
C. A. Spina, D. Smith, E. Korn, J. L. Fahey and H. J. Grossman
Cell-associated immunocompetence was evaluated in 42 patients with Down's
syndrome (DS) and compared with that of institutionalized patient control
and normal control groups. B lymphocytes, as both percent of total lymphoid
cells and absolute number, were markedly reduced in patients with DS.
T-lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin mitogen also was
significantly decreased. This altered response of the lymphocyte population
was evident in both the presence and absence of accessory helper monocytes.
Increased Fc receptor (FcR) cell activity, as measured by
antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was seen in both the patients with
DS and the control patients. This probably resulted from common
environmental factors such as exposure to infectious factors such as
exposure to infectious agents. No change was found in the WBC counts,
percentages of lymphocytes and monocytes, percentages of t cells and FcR
cells, or in the natural killer cell activity.
