Apoptosis of Jurkat cells induced by serum of patients with acute severe brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the capacity of serum samples draining from the neuronal lesions to induce apoptosis of the lymphoid Jurkat cells in vitro and to analyze whether this effect is related to patient outcome.


METHODS
Prospective clinical investigation in a 21-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital.


METHODS
Forty-two patients who had suffered from acute brain injury (traumatic brain injury or spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage) requiring intensive care.


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained simultaneously from jugular bulb vein (regional) and from central venous catheter (systemic) on admission to the ICU and after 24, 48, and 72 h. Jurkat cells were incubated in the presence of 10% of heat-inactivated patients sera. The percentages of apoptotic cultured cells was measured by staining with annexin V and propidium iodide.


RESULTS
Regional serum draining from the lesions induced higher percentages of early and late apoptotic cells than systemic serum. The apoptotic effect was clearer with the sera from the patients who developed brain death. The apoptotic effect maintained a relationship with the mortality and the functional outcome at 6 months after the injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite being performed on lymphoid cells because of the easier technical handling, our data help to elucidate the role of apoptosis for brain damage in acute brain injury. This and other undergoing studies on neuronal cells will enhance the understanding and management of apoptotic cell death in patients with acute brain injury admitted to the ICU.
Miñambres
Eduardo
E
Intensive Care Department, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008 Santander, Spain.
Lopez-Escribano
Herminio
H
Ballesteros
María A
MA
Peña
Marta
M
López-Hoyos
Marcos
M
D017209:Apoptosis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate