Activated T lymphocytes disappear from circulation during endotoxemia in humans.
Seventeen volunteers received an intravenous bolus of endotoxin (2 ng/kg of body weight). Endotoxin-induced lymphopenia was constituted mainly by cells with an immature phenotype (CD45RA(+) CD45RO(-)) that were less likely to undergo apoptosis (CD28(+)), whereas cells with the highest rates of disappearance were characterized by an activated phenotype (CD45RA(-) CD45RO(+)) as well as a phenotype linked to apoptosis (CD95(+) CD28(-)). In conclusion, endotoxin-induced lymphopenia reflects the disappearance from the circulation of activated lymphocytes prone to undergo apoptosis.
Krabbe
K S
KS
Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bruunsgaard
H
H
Qvist
J
J
Fonsmark
L
L
Møller
K
K
Hansen
C M
CM
Skinhøj
P
P
Pedersen
B K
BK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019014:fas Receptor; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens