Abstract
The ability of GH to influence humoral and cell-mediated immunity was evaluated in 21 GH-deficient children, 1.8-17.7 yr, before and during therapy with biosynthetic GH (Somatonorm)(12U/mq)im injected three times weekly. Blood was collected prior to GH treatment (Gr. A), then following the 1st week (Gr. B), then again at the 3rd-6th month (Gr. C), and finally at the 9th-12th monthth of therapy. Cell-mediated immunity was assessed by quantititation of T lymphocyte subpopulations (T total, helper and suppressor cells) using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8). No variations in serum immunoglobulin levels were observed throught treatment period. Pretreatment OKT3, OKT4, OKT8 values (Gr. A) were within the normal range and did not change after the 1st week of GH therapy (Gr. B). However, following 3–6 month GH treatment (Gr. C), OKT3 significantly increased (70.61 ± 1.84 vs 78.38±1.14, p < 0.001), OKT4 decreased (46.71±1.81 vs 40.23±2.09, p<0.01), OKT8 increased (25.00±1.44 vs 34.09±1.71, p<0.001) and OKT4/OKT8 ratios decreased (2.01±0.16 vs 1.34±0.10, p<0.001). At the 9th-12th month of therapy (Gr. D), the percentage of T cells was not significantly different from pretreatment values. Our data suggest some relationship between GH and thymic-dependent immune function.
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Bozzola, M., Valtorta, A., Biscaldi, I. et al. INFLUENCE OF BIOSYNTHETIC GROWTH HORMONE (GH) THERAPY ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF GH-DEFICIENT CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 23, 118 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00103