Phagocytosis and production of H2O2 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with obstructive jaundice.
BACKGROUND
The immune function is altered in jaundiced patients; here, the ability of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells to perform phagocytosis and to release H2O2 was analyzed.


METHODS
Cells from 53 patients before surgery for relief of cholestasis, from 38 patients 1 week and from 15 patients 2 weeks after surgery were separated and cultured for 1 h in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate. H2O2 release was evaluated colorimetrically and phagocytosis by the ingestion of Escherichia coli in vitro.


RESULTS
Before surgery for relief of cholestasis, the cells of the patients were unable to release H2O2, but, after surgery, an increasing percentage of patients had cells that were able to produce H2O2 (13% after 1 week; 33% after 2 weeks). This recovery did not correlate with bilirubinemia. When cultured for 1 week in the presence of normal or jaundiced plasma, regardless of collection time, cells of 12/12 patients released H2O2, but in lower levels if in the presence of jaundiced plasma. In contrast, H2O2 release by normal donor cells was enhanced in the presence of jaundiced plasma. Phagocytosis by cells of the patients was lower, but when present was associated with a significantly higher bactericidal activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These significant, but reversible alterations of monocyte function in jaundiced patients might contribute to their enhanced susceptibility to surgical complications.
Treglia-Dal Lago
Marisa
M
Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jukemura
Jose
J
Machado
Marcel Cerqueira Cesar
MC
da Cunha
Jose Eduardo Monteiro
JE
Barbuto
Jose Alexandre Marzagão
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*
D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide