title: Effect of thymectomy on cellular immune function.
abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of thymectomy during open heart surgery on immunological function of T lymphocytes in the treatment of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). No significant difference was found in the sjTREC level between pre-thymectomy and post- thymectomy in the non-thymectomy group and the small partial resection group (P>0.05) However, the sjTREC level decreased from the pre-surgical level at 1 month (P<0.01) and 12 months (P<0.01) in the sub-total resection group. No differences were found in proportions of CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, proliferative ability of lymphocytes and expression of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ after surgery between controls and three groups of patients (P>0.05). In the sub-total resection group, respiratory infection frequency (4.7±1.7 times) did not differ significantly from control group one year after surgery (P>0.05); however, mean days of anti-infection were significantly increased (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, sub-total thymectomy leads to a decrease in the sjTREC level in CHD children, whereas the function of peripheral mature T lymphocytes is normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai JiaoTong University Affiliated Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yunfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jinfen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Biru
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines