T lymphocytes in implant-associated posttraumatic osteomyelitis: Identification of cytotoxic T effector cells at the site of infection.
In implant-associated posttraumatic osteomyelitis, a massive infiltration of leukocytes into the infected site is seen. As described previously, the most infiltrated cells were highly activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils. In addition, a considerable T-cell infiltrate was noted. Whereas our previous work was mainly concerned with the phenotypical and functional characterization of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils, we now analyzed T lymphocytes of 32 patients with implant-associated posttraumatic osteomyelitis. We found evidence for an expansion of CD8 T cells in the peripheral blood of the patients and for an infiltration of these cells into the infected site. Further analysis of the surface-receptor pattern by three-color cytofluorometry revealed that the majority of these cells belonged to the cytotoxic-effector phenotype. Of note is that cytotoxic T cells are generally associated with virus infection. Thus, the detection of those cells in patients with bacterial infection was rather unexpected and points to a novel, not yet appreciated, role of CD8 T cells also in the defense of bacterial infections.
Wagner
Christof
C
Institut für Immunologie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
Heck
Dominik
D
Lautenschläger
Karin
K
Iking-Konert
Christof
C
Heppert
Volkmar
V
Wentzensen
Andreas
A
Hänsch
Gertrud Maria
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019041:L-Selectin