title: Detection of T cell apoptosis after major operations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect T cell apoptosis in reduced peripheral lymphocyte counts in patients having major operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  11 patients having oesophagectomy and 5 having laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate T cell apoptosis we detected DNA fragmentation using electrophoresis, and T-cell receptor-gamma (TCR-gamma) gene amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral lymphocyte count and DNA extracted from the serum preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, and 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lymphocyte count decreased significantly until day 5 and then increased in the patients who had had oesophagectomy. DNA fragmentation and PCR products for the TCRgamma variable region gene were found in the serum DNA of 10 patients until day 5. No DNA fragmentation or PCR products were found in the serum of patients who had had laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that transient T cell apoptosis occurs after major operations.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsutani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takubo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*