Title of article :
Serum Levels of Th2-Type Immunoglobulins are Increased in Weanling Mice Subjected to Acute Wasting Protein-Energy Malnutrition
Author/Authors :
Neyestani, Tirang R Shaheed-Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Woodward, William D Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences - University of Guelph - Guelph - ON N1G 2W1, Canada , Hillyer, Lyn Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences - University of Guelph - Guelph - ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Abstract :
The bulk of our knowledge on immunosuppression in malnutrition comes from the
experiments done on cell-mediated immunity. However, malnutrition-induced modifications
of humoral immunity have been less understood. The objective of this study
was to determine the effects of acute protein-energy malnutrition on serum levels of
immunoglobulins and their subclasses in murine models. Male and female C57BL/6J
mice were allocated to one of the four groups:(1) zero-time control (ZC) (19 days of
age); (2) ad libitum intake of a complete purified diet (control group [CG]);(3) restricted
intake of the complete diet (restricted group [RG]); and ad libitum intake of an
isocaloric low-protein diet (low-protein group [LP]). The three groups other than the
zero-time control were maintained on their respective regimens for 14 days, i.e. from
19 through 33 days of age. The restricted intake protocol produced weight loss through
energy deficiency (marasmic-type malnutrition), whereas the low-protein diet caused
wasting through inadequate protein nitrogen and induced a condition mimicking incipient
kwashiorkor. Though serum levels of IgG1 and IgE (Th2-type immunoglobulins) in
RG and LP mice were significantly higher than those in CG mice, serum levels of IgG2a
and IgG3 (Th1-type immunoglobulins) did not show any significant difference between
those three groups. Interestingly, serum levels of IgG2b (another Th2-type immunoglobulin)
in LP mice were significantly higher than those in CG and RG mice. In ZC mice
serum levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 were significantly higher than those in
the other three groups. We concluded that during acute malnutrition, Th1/Th2 balance
is apparently shifted towards Th2 arm. This deviation seems to be more prominent
during acute protein deficiency. The increased serum levels of immunoglobulins in ZC
mice were probably due to the intestinal uptake of those proteins from maternal milk
Keywords :
Mice , Protein-energy malnutrition , Serum immunoglobulins
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
