Mononuclear cell function and energetics in early traumatic injury.
BACKGROUND
The reason for increased infectious complications after traumatic injury is complex and incompletely understood. We propose a relationship between the energetic state of circulating immune cells and immune cell function in traumatic injury. To examine this relationship, cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and cellular functions were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from trauma patients and normal subjects.


METHODS
Mononuclear cells were isolated within 24 h of injury from trauma patients without (n = 12) or with (n = 10) hypotension (groups 1 and 2, respectively), and a group of normal control subjects (group 3, n = 13). Mononuclear cells were assayed for ATP levels using bioluminescence. Phagocytosis was quantified via flow cytometry after ingestion of fluorescent microspheres and phagocytic index (PI) was calculated (average number of particles ingested per monocyte). Protein synthesis was quantified using incorporation of (35)S-labeled methionine into cultured cells. Comparisons between groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with adjustment for multiple comparisons.


RESULTS
All but one trauma patient suffered blunt injury. There were significantly more transfusions in group 2 (hypotensive) patients (p = 0.0005). Nosocomial infections, length of stay (LOS), and mortality did not differ between groups 1 and 2. Concentrations of ATP and PI in both groups of traum a patients did not significantly differ from controls. In hypotensive trauma patients, increased duration of hypotension was associated with increased mononuclear cell ATP levels (r(2) = 0.227). A negative correlation between PI and ATP levels in trauma patients was discovered. Incorporation of (35)S was significantly greater in normotensive trauma patients than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Mononuclear cell ATP levels and measured functions are preserved in early traumatic injury.
Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota and North Trauma Institute, North Memorial Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Narong
N
Kulvatunyou
Kristine E
KE
Groehler
Jodie H
JH
Taylor
Greg J
GJ
Beilman
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate