Chemotactic defects in severe combined immunodeficiency

Severe combined immunodeficiency associated with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E, eosinophilia and impaired neutrophil chemotaxis

A boy with severe combined immunodeficiency was found to have coexistent hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E, eosinophilia and impaired neutrophil chemotaxis. Based on the literature, a deficient regulatory function of the T-cell system is proposed as the basic defect leading to the observed impairment of the cellular and humoral immunity and, probably through hyper-immunoglobulinaemia E, to defective neutrophil chemotaxis.

Neutrophil chemotactic defect and hypogammaglobulinemia

A 15-months-old boy developed agranulocytosis after administration of Chloramphenicol and Aminopyrine. In spite of total hematological recovery, the patient's immunological study disclosed a persistent neutrophil chemotactic defect and hypogammaglobulinemia. Other studies of specific and non-specific immunity were normal. Neutrophil adherence, random and random stimulated mobility were always within the normal range. The presence of chemotactic inhibitors was discarded. In vitro incubation of his neutrophils with Cytochalasin B at 0.1 micrograms/ml final concentration, reversed the chemotactic abnormality suggesting a possible cell membrane defect.

Intrinsic neutrophil defects in a child with impaired neutrophil chemotaxis and immunodeficiency

A boy with recurrent pyogenic infection was found to have occasional neutropenia, defective neutrophil chemotaxis, hypogammaglobulinemia with increased IgM, and impaired cellular immunity. The T and B lymphocytes were defective in IgG production in vitro. Ultrastructure of the neutrophils was normal. The marrow cells formed normal numbers of granulocytic colonies in culture, but the colonies were apparently small in size. The levels of colony-stimulating activity were normal. The lymphocytes did not impair granulopoiesis of control marrow cells. These data indicate that the neutropenia and defective neutrophil chemotaxis are due to the intrinsic neutrophil defects and are not secondary to T and/or B lymphocyte dysfunctions in the patient.

Neutrophil chemotaxis defect in IgA deficiency evaluated by migration agarose method

The chemotactic and random mobility functions of twelve selectively IgA-deficient patients were evaluated by a method using agarose gel. A severe polymorphonuclear cellular chemotactic defect was found in ten out of twelve patients, but only five of them also showed a marked associated impairment of random locomotory function. Furthermore, in one subject, levamisole therapy resulted in a dramatic improvement of both chemotactic and random mobility functions. These results are discussed in the paper with respect to the possible pathogenetic implications.