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lung infection at necropsy and/or arterial hypertrophy greater than Heath-Edwards' 1st degree. Immunohistochemical technique was applied to identify the cell phenotypes and the cytokines in situ. BALT was identified in all cases in this study. The main cellular phenotypes in BALT were T helper (TH) and B lymphocytes surrounded by T cytotoxic lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells in less quantities. Interleukin 10 and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha were the predominant cytokines in BALT without antigenic stimuli. BALT is an important structure of the lung immune system in infants, with a tendency to maintain an environment favorable to the Th2 arm of immune response. It needs more exploration to define its behavior in front of infections, especially those with pulmonary tropism.

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The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.