Abstract
A 13 year eld female presented with overwhelming varicella infection with varicella pneumonia. Immunological evaluation revealed complete absence of natural killer cell activity with normal T lymphocyte subsets and proliferative responses. The varicella infection was controlled with a course of acyclovir and the patient recovered with severe scarring. Immunological studies following convalescence have revealed a persistent lymphopenia (564±205), normal quantitative immunoglobulins and T lymphocyte proliferative responses. Nucleoside phosphorylase levels were normal. Neutrophil chemotaxis was normal and mononuclear cells reacting with the OKM-1 monoclonal were present. NK cells in the peripheral blood enumerated by the monoclonal antibody Leu 11 were markedly deficient (1–5%). Complete absence of NK cell activity (50:1 E/T ratio) against K562 (0.5±0.8 specific immune release, plt;.0001) has persisted. In vitro NK cell function was completely unresponsive to recombinant ô interferon and IL-2. Mixed lymphocyte culture induced T cell mediated cytotoxicity against lymphoid tumor targets was normal. No Leu 11 positive cells could be induced to proliferate in response to K562 and lymphokine (IL-2) activated killing was absent. Percoll gradient enrichment for NK cells revealed complete absence of Leu 11 positive large granular lymphocytes. Percoll enriched populations failed to form normal conjugates with K562 and killing in agarose was absent. These results suggest that NK cells play an important role in the early immune response to varicella virus.
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Sullivan, J., Byron, K. & Biron, C. 1032 COMPLETE ABSENCE OF NATURAL KILLER (NK) CELLS ASSOCIATED WITH NEAR FATAL VARICELLA INFECTION. Pediatr Res 19, 282 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01062
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01062