Monocyte subsets and natural killer cells in acute pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Alteration of the immune system is one of the major mechanisms responsible for complications in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of our study was to provide a complex evaluation of peripheral blood monocyte subsets, natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in patients with different severity forms of AP.


METHODS
20 patients with mild AP and 15 with severe AP (S-AP) were included in our study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied on days 1-3, 5, 10 and 30, by means of flow cytometry.


RESULTS
In peripheral blood of patients with pancreatitis, we found a marked increase in total monocyte count. In S-AP, circulating monocytes were significantly activated, which was presumed from increased expression of HLA-DR, CD54, CD69 and CD25. Concurrent increased expression of CD95 (FasR) may indicate enhanced susceptibility of these cells to apoptosis. In patients with S-AP, a dramatic depletion of circulating NK cells (CD16/56 and CD3- CD8+) was found along with a reduction of circulating CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes (cytotoxic T lymphocytes).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest profound disturbances of innate cellular immunity in patients with S-AP.
Dabrowski
Andrzej
A
Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. adabrows@amb.edu.pl
Osada
Joanna
J
Dabrowska
Milena I
MI
Wereszczynska-Siemiatkowska
Urszula
U
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000097:blood; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood; D017209:Apoptosis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D017304:Annexin A5; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D019014:fas Receptor; D000099192:CD69 Antigens