[Quantitative characteristics of the immunocompetent cells of the large-intestinal mucosa in acute dysentery].

Histological and immuno-morphological examinations of the large intestine mucosa obtained by aspirational biopsy from 38 adult patients with acute dysentery in the mild, moderately severe and severe forms and from 4 normal subjects were carried out. In each case, a per cent ratio of immunocompetent cells in deep and superficial parts of the mucous membrane proper, the content of interepithelial lymphocytes, the cell density of infiltrate per 1 mm2 of the mucous membrane, the number of cells producing IgA, IgM, and IgG per 1 mm2 of the mucous membrane were determined. As the severity of clinical and morphological manifestations of dysentery increased, the number of cells actively producing immunoglobulins was found to increase and epithelium infiltration with lymphocyte to be enhanced. The main role in the development of local immune response in dysentery is played by IgA-producing cells, and in the moderately severe and severe forms of dysentery the number of IgM-producing cells increases.