Transfer factor and cellular immune response in urinary tract infections in children.

Cellular immune responses in vivo and in vitro were studied in 20 children with chronic or relapsing urinary tract infections. Skin tests revealed decreased immune responses to PPD in cases with chronic or recurrent pyelonephritis and to OM, in these cases and in cases of lower urinary tract infections. Blast transformation responses to PPD, OM and PHA were at least as high as in controls. Administration of chromatographically purified fraction from human leucocyte transfer factor resulted in a positive skin reaction with antigen concentration, which before TF administration had caused a negative reaction. The results suggest that the action of the transfer factor component used in this study is based on an immunologically nonspecific stimulation of the cellular immune response.