title: Changes in the number of gut mucosal T-lymphocytes and macrophages in patients treated by external biliary drainage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the changes in the number of T cells and macrophages in the mucosal lamina propria in the presence or absence of bile in the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  6 patients with obstructive jaundice who had external biliary drainage (drainage group) and 6 patients with no signs of obstructive jaundice (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastrointestinal specimens were taken at the time of operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages in the lamina propria mucosae in each group measured immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numbers of CD8 T cells and CD68+ macrophages in the lamina propria of the patients treated by external drainage were significantly less than in the control group (p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in the number of CD4+ T cells between the groups (p = 0.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of bile, mucosal immune function fails as a result of reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells and macrophages.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ajiki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged