title: Impairment of non-specific immunity in patients under persistent vegetative state resulting from trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immune response in patients under persistent vegetative state (PVS) resulting from trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood monocytes were obtained from 12 PVS patients (Group PVS)and individuals in normal control group by density gradient centrifugation; the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit was then used to measure monocyte HLA-DR antigen expression on the surface of peripheral blood monocytes before and after monocyte activation with either IFN-gamma or LPS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with normal control group, the peripheral blood monocyte HLA-DR antigen expression in the Group PVC fell significantly in PV S patients (P<0.001); the level of HLA-DR antigen express ion on the monocyte surface rose notably after stimulation with either IFN-gamma or LPS (P<0.01). As for PVS patients, it was still difficult to restore to normal (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of HLA-DR antigen expression on the sur face of peripheral blood monocytes in PVS patients decreases obviously. Therefore, the function of non-specific immunity in PVS patients is suppressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, 254th Hospital of PLA, Tanjin 300090, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens