Interferon and Natural Killer Activity in Infants with Exanthem Subitum
Loading...
Authors
Segal, Ethan
Issue Date
1990
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Blood from patients diagnosed as suffering from exanthem subitum
(roseola infantum), a common disease of infancy, was studied during
the febrile, rash (exanthem), and convalescent phases. Investigations
were undertaken to determine how infants are able to begin fighting
the disease despite an average time lag of five to seven days before
significant levels of HHV -6 specific antibody titer is seen. Natural
killer (NK) cytotoxicity assays were conducted using 51 Chromium
labelled K562 targets. Patient antibody titer against HHV -6 was
measured through the use of a monoclonal antibody
immunofluoresence test. Interferon (IFN) levels were analyzed in
vivo, and the ability of the three classes of interferon to induce
resistance to HHV -6 in cord blood mononuclear cells was studied In
vitro. In comparison to a healthy adult control, infants with
exanthem subitum in the acute phases of the disease displayed
significantly elevated levels of NK activity. By the time convalesence
had begun, NK cytotoxicity had fallen to levels below that of the
same control. Interferon showed a similar pattern, with leukocyte
interferon (IFN-a) seen to be the primary component. In vitro work
indicated some resistance conferred by both IFN -a and. IFN -b; other
studies with the different members of the human herpesvirus family
have also shown that IFN-a can play a role in antiviral resistance.
These results suggest that natural killing and interferon stimulation
of NK and/or target cells play a key role in the ability of infants to
combat HHV -6 infection, and that further studies for treatment of
immunosuppressed or immunodeficient adults suffering from HHV-6
infection may proceed along these lines .
With honors.
With honors.
Description
vii, 36 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.