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Diseases of Cellular Immunity
- E. RICHARD STIEHM, M.D.;
- ARTHUR J. AMMANN, M.D.;
- EUGENE V. BARNETT, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- CHARLES G. CRADDOCK, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- H. HUGH FUDENBERG, M.D.; and
- GLENN J. LAWLOR, JR., M.D.
Abstract
Cellular immune reactions are mediated by lymphocytes and their products, the cellular mediators. Although it is convenient to consider cellular immunity and antibody immunity as separate, many interrelationships have been found both in the normal immune response and in such disorders as infections, transplant rejections, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency. Difficulty in assessing cellular immunity has hampered understanding of its full contribution. Diagnosis of cellular immunodeficiency is aided by total peripheral counts, skin tests, in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin, allogeneic cells and antigens and mediator assays, particularly migratory inhibiting factor assays. Such procedures are needed for exact diagnosis and appropriate specific therapy, including transfer factor from immune lymphocytes, neonatal thymus transplants, and bone marrow transplants. Transfer factor is especially valuable in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and mucocutaneous candidiasis, thymus transplant in thymic hypoplasia (DiGeorge syndrome), and bone marrow transplant in combined immunodeficiency (Swiss agammaglobulinemia) when an HL-A identical sibling is available as donor.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited transcription of the Interdepartmental Clinical Case Conference arranged by the Division of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to E. Richard Stiehm, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024.
