Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a rather mild immunodeficiency diseas

Question

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a rather mild immunodeficiency disease that generally appears in young adults, with a peak onset between ages 20-30. Approximately 25% of the cases of CVID are familial, indicating a genetic basis for the disease. CVID patients suffer from recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, the ears, and the gastrointestinal tract. Common infections in these patients are caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. One particular family was chosen for further study. In this family, two of four children have CVID, In a series of studies, peripheral blood cells from one CVID patient and one healthy child in this family were collected, and T cell and B cell populations were separately isolated. These cell populations were mixed in different combinations, and then cultured for one week in the cytokines IL-4, IL-21, and IL-6. At the end of one week, the concentrations of secreted antibody in the culture supernatants were measured and the results are shown in the Table below Cells in culture No cytokines added IL-4, IL-6, and IL-21 added antib antib Healthy B cells Healthy B cellshealthy T cells CVID B cells healthy T cells Healthy B cells CVID T cells CVID B cells CVID T cells 0.5 0.4

Explanation / Answer

B cells ate to be stimulated by the T helper cells so that they differentiate into plasma cells and memory cells. Plasma cells produce antibodies and memory cells memorise the antigen. In CVID, B cells do not produce enough antibodies to protect against infections.

The data indicates that healthy T cells are required for the B cells to differentiate into plasma cells and produce antibodies.

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