Effect of iron deficiency on cell-mediated immunity in adults

Abstract

Background Iron plays a vital role in immune system development, integrity, as well as proper function through its growth-promoting and differentiation-inducing properties in immune cells and its interference with cell-mediated immune effector pathways and cytokine activities. In the past few decades, several studies have found that iron deficiency markedly affects the immune system. However, data on the effect of iron deficiency on immune function are still confusing and contradictory. Aim To assess the effect of iron-deficiency anemia on cell-mediated immunity. Patients and methods The percentage and count of T-lymphocytes (CD3+) and their CD4+ and CD8+ subsets and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were evaluated in 25 iron-deficient and 15 healthy adult women. The effect of iron therapy on the same parameters was also assessed in patients after correction of anemia. Results In our study, there was no statistically significant difference between patient and control groups regarding CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cell counts and percentages and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, with no statistically significant difference after iron therapy. However, it was found that serum ferritin level was significantly positively correlated with CD4+/CD8+ ratio and CD4+ cell percentage and absolute count and significantly negatively correlated with CD8+ cell percentage. Conclusion Iron deficiency has no effect on cell-mediated immunity with respect to quantitative changes in T-lymphocyte subsets and CD4/CD8 ratio.