Abstract
The spleen plays a paramount role in the host protection against invading microrganisms. In support of the above concept, in splenectomized patients there is increasing evidence of overwhelming postsplenectomy infections (OPSI). OPSI are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in about 80% of cases, but also Gram-negative bacteria are implicated in a certain number of cases. Therapeutically, penicillin and pneumococcal vaccines represent valid therapeutic approaches in Gram-positive OPSI. However, the effectiveness of polyvalent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines is still debated and, thus, other therapeutic strategies should be validated for combating OPSI. According to our personal data, a deficit of phagocytic activities and of T helper (h)-1 cells is very frequent in splenectomized patients. In sera, we found reduced levels of both Interferon-γ and Interleukin (IL)-4. These data are in accordance with the recent observation on the protective role of T cells against S. pneumoniae. In fact, patients deficient in IL-12 develop severe pneumococcal infections and undergo apoptosis of Th1 cells.
Keywords: lymphocytes, macrophages, spleen, t helper cells, vaccines
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: The Immunocompromised Host: Immune Alterations in Splenectomized Patients and Clinical Implications
Volume: 9 Issue: 24
Author(s): E. Jirillo, M. L. Mastronardi, M. Altamura, I. Munno, S. Miniello, G. Urgesi and L. Amati
Affiliation:
Keywords: lymphocytes, macrophages, spleen, t helper cells, vaccines
Abstract: The spleen plays a paramount role in the host protection against invading microrganisms. In support of the above concept, in splenectomized patients there is increasing evidence of overwhelming postsplenectomy infections (OPSI). OPSI are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in about 80% of cases, but also Gram-negative bacteria are implicated in a certain number of cases. Therapeutically, penicillin and pneumococcal vaccines represent valid therapeutic approaches in Gram-positive OPSI. However, the effectiveness of polyvalent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines is still debated and, thus, other therapeutic strategies should be validated for combating OPSI. According to our personal data, a deficit of phagocytic activities and of T helper (h)-1 cells is very frequent in splenectomized patients. In sera, we found reduced levels of both Interferon-γ and Interleukin (IL)-4. These data are in accordance with the recent observation on the protective role of T cells against S. pneumoniae. In fact, patients deficient in IL-12 develop severe pneumococcal infections and undergo apoptosis of Th1 cells.
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Cite this article as:
Jirillo E., Mastronardi L. M., Altamura M., Munno I., Miniello S., Urgesi G. and Amati L., The Immunocompromised Host: Immune Alterations in Splenectomized Patients and Clinical Implications, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2003; 9 (24) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033454306
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033454306 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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