J Korean Med Sci.  2017 May;32(5):750-756. 10.3346/jkms.2017.32.5.750.

Deficiencies of Circulating Mucosal-associated Invariant T Cells and Natural Killer T Cells in Patients with Multiple Trauma

• Jo YG
• Choi HJ
• Kim JC
• Cho YN
• Kang JH
• Jin HM
• Kee SJ
• Park YW

• KMID: 2375074
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2017.32.5.750

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to play important roles in autoimmunity, infectious diseases and cancers. However, little is known about the roles of these invariant T cells in multiple trauma. The purposes of this study were to examine MAIT and NKT cell levels in patients with multiple trauma and to investigate potential relationships between these cell levels and clinical parameters. The study cohort was composed of 14 patients with multiple trauma and 22 non-injured healthy controls (HCs). Circulating MAIT and NKT cell levels in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. The severity of injury was categorised according to the scoring systems, such as Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Circulating MAIT and NKT cell numbers were significantly lower in multiple trauma patients than in HCs. Linear regression analysis showed that circulating MAIT cell numbers were significantly correlated with age, APACHE II, SAPS II, ISS category, hemoglobin, and platelet count. NKT cell numbers in the peripheral blood were found to be significantly correlated with APACHE II, SAPS II, and ISS category. This study shows numerical deficiencies of circulating MAIT cells and NKT cells in multiple trauma. In addition, these invariant T cell deficiencies were found to be associated with disease severity. These findings provide important information for predicting the prognosis of multiple trauma.

Keyword

Flow Cytometry; Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells; Multiple Trauma; Natural Killer T Cells

MeSH Terms

APACHE
Autoimmunity
Cell Count
Cohort Studies
Communicable Diseases
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Linear Models
Multiple Trauma*
Natural Killer T-Cells*
Physiology
Platelet Count
Prognosis
T-Lymphocytes*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Reduced circulating MAIT cell numbers in the peripheral blood of multiple trauma patients. Freshly isolated PBMC from 22 HCs and 14 patients with multiple trauma were stained with APC-Alexa Fluor 750-conjugated anti-CD3, FITC-conjugated anti-TCR γδ, APC-conjugated anti-TCR Vα7.2 and PE-Cy5-conjugated anti-CD161 mAbs and then analyzed by flow cytometry. Percentages of MAIT cells were calculated within a αβ T cell gate. (A) Representative MAIT cell percentages as determined by flow cytometry. (B) MAIT cell percentages among peripheral blood αβ T cells. (C) Absolute MAIT cell numbers (per microliter of blood). Symbols (●) represent individual subjects; horizontal bars show the median. MAIT = mucosal-associated invariant T, PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cell, HCs = healthy controls, APC = allophycocyanin, FITC = fluorescein isothiocyanate, TCR = T cell receptor, PE = phycoerythrin, mAbs = monoclonal antibodies, ANCOVA = analysis of covariance. *P < 0.01, †P < 0.001 by ANCOVA test.

• 

  Fig. 2 Reduced circulating NKT cell numbers in the peripheral blood multiple trauma patients. Freshly isolated PBMC from 22 HCs and 14 patients with multiple trauma were stained with FITC-conjugated anti CD3, PerCP-conjugated anti-CD4, APC-conjugated anti-CD8α, and PE-conjugated 6B11 mAbs, and then analyzed by flow cytometry. Percentages of NKT cells were calculated within a lymphoid gate. (A) Representative NKT cell percentages as determined by flow cytometry. (B) NKIT cell percentages among peripheral blood lymphocytes. (C) Absolute NKT cell numbers (per microliter of peripheral blood). Symbols (●) represent individual subjects and horizontal lines are median values. NKT = natural killer T, PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cell, HCs = healthy controls, FITC = fluorescein isothiocyanate, APC = allophycocyanin, PE = phycoerythrin, mAbs = monoclonal antibodies, ANCOVA = analysis of covariance. *P < 0.05, †P < 0.01 by ANCOVA test.

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