Distinct immune profiles in children of high versus low socioeconomic
status: a study in Indonesia
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Responses to immune perturbations can vary greatly when
comparing geographical regions such Europe versus South East Asia but
also when comparing urban versus rural areas within a country. This can
translate into differences in disease profiles or in responses to
vaccines. However, even within an urban area, large differences in
income settings can be seen. Therefore, it is also important to assess
whether differences observed when comparing rural and urban residents
can also be detected between high and low socioeconomic status (SES)
within an urban center. AIM: To examine the immune profile of children
of high versus low SES METHODS: Using mass cytometry, we profiled immune
cells in finger-prick blood samples of children attending high and low
SES schools in Makassar, Indonesia. RESULTS: Significant differences
were found in the immune profiles of children from low versus high SES.
Increased frequencies of entire and CD11c+ B cells, CD161+ T helper 2
cells and CTLA-4+ Tregs and HLA-DRdimCD163+ monocytes were seen in low
SES children, whereas a trend towards expansion of T helper 1 cells was
observed in the high SES group. CONCLUSION: Although differences in the
immune system of populations living in rural versus urban areas have
been documented, this study shows that within an urban center, the
socioeconomic status can have a significant impact on the immune system
of children. Such differences might contribute to variation seen in
immune reactivity to allergens, autoantigens or vaccines, therefore SES
should be factored in when studying responses to immune perturbations.