Soluble immune complexes, acute phase proteins and E-rosette inhibitory substance in sera of malnourished children.

The percentage of circulating E-rosetting lymphocytes and the presence of serum E-rosette inhibitory substance were determined in 58 marasmic, 13 kwashiorkor and 22 well-fed children. The blood levels of soluble immune complexes and some acute phase proteins were also measured. The percentage of E-rosetting lymphocytes was significantly higher in the well-fed than in the malnourished children. The presence of the inhibitory substance in serum correlated with depressed levels of circulating mean percentage E-rosetting lymphocytes. Elevation in the level of soluble immune complexes was observed to correlate closely with the presence of serum E-rosette inhibitory substance and with a diminished percentage of E-rosetting lymphocytes. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of circulating E-rosetting lymphocytes and the serum alpha 1 antitrypsin, alpha 2 macroglobulin or C-reactive protein levels. It is suggested that at high serum concentrations soluble immune complexes may bind selectively to human T lymphocytes in vivo, thereby inhibiting the latter's ability to form E-rosettes in vitro.