ABSTRACT
The immune system, like all systems in the body, is dependent on the availability and utilization of nutrients for optimal maintenance and function of its components. Nutrient deficiencies have been demonstrated to have adverse effects on humoral immunity, phagocytosis, complement systems, and on cell-mediated immunity. The effects of nutrition on T-cell function have been widely investigated because of their involvement in all aspects of the immune response. The mechanisms by which altered cell-mediated immunity occurs, however, have not been studied extensively. Some insight into these mechanisms can be gained by studying the effects of malnutrition on regulatory factors such as cytokines. Cytokines are soluble, nonimmunoglobulin, hormonelike products of sensitized mononuclear leukocytes. Cytokines mediate many aspects of the immune response by regulating motility of target cells and by providing regulatory signals for target cells. Macrophage inhibitor factor retards macrophage migration from areas of inflammation, increases macrophage adhesiveness, and increases intracellular tubulin polymerization.
