Variation and significance of NKT cell and its subset in patients with severe multiple injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the variation and significance of natural killer T (NKT) cells in patients with severe multiple injuries.


METHODS
Peripheral blood was drawn from 30 patients with severe multiple injuries and 20 healthy individuals. NKT cells and the subsets of NKT cells were stained and analyzed on fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) using Cellquest software. The level of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in blood serum was detected by ELISA.


RESULTS
The proportion of NKT cells was significantly increased. CD4+ NKT cells was increased (t equal to -3.11, P less than 0.01) and CD4+CD8+NKT (double negative NKT, DN NKT) cells decreased in patients with severe multiple injuries compared with healthy controls (t equal to 2.99, P less than 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the proportion of NKT cells and injury severity score (ISS) by Spearman correlation analysis (r equal to 0.70, P less than 0. 01). The level of IFN-gamma was significantly decreased and the level of IL-4 significantly increased in patients with severe multiple injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that human NKT cells are increased in trauma patients. Most significantly, there is an association between ISS and NKT cells. The increased CD4+NKT cells may contribute to the reduction of Th1 cytokine production and the growth of Th2 cytokine production, leading to the suppression of immunity after injury.
Chen
Guo-bing
GB
Department of Traumatic Surgery of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Tang
Zhao-hui
ZH
Bai
Xiang-jun
XJ
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
D016207:Cytokines