Natural killer T (NKT) cells rapidly produce Th1 and Th2 cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-4. This study examined the frequency and function of NKT cells in trauma patients. Frequencies, proliferative responses to α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), and Th1/Th2 cytokine secretion levels of NKT cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from trauma patients and healthy controls (HC) were measured by flow cytometry. Circulating NKT cell levels were significantly reduced in trauma patients. Proliferation and IFN-γ production of circulating NKT cells in response to α-GalCer were markedly decreased in trauma patients. CD69 expression levels produced by NKT cells were significantly upregulated in trauma patients compared to those in HC. In addition, annexin V+ NKT cells were profoundly increased in trauma patients after α-GalCer stimulation. Trauma patients had higher plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α compared to HC. In particular, the proliferative response of NKT cells to α-GalCer was significantly decreased in the presence of these cytokines. Such decrease was partially recovered after treatment with blocking antibodies against these cytokines. This study demonstrates that circulating NKT cells are numerically deficient and functionally impaired in IFN-γ production in trauma patients. These findings provide an important insight into the trauma-related innate immune response.
J Innate Immun

中文翻译：

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在创伤患者中，天然杀伤性T细胞在数量和功能上都不足。

自然杀伤T（NKT）细胞快速产生Th1和Th2细胞因子，例如干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）和白介素（IL）-4。这项研究检查了创伤患者中NKT细胞的频率和功能。通过流式细胞术测量了来自创伤患者和健康对照组（HC）的外周血单核细胞中NKT细胞的频率，对α-半乳糖苷神经酰胺（α-GalCer）的增殖反应以及NK细胞分泌的Th1 / Th2细胞因子。创伤患者中循环NKT细胞水平显着降低。在创伤患者中，循环NKT细胞对α-GalCer的增殖和IFN-γ产生显着降低。与HC患者相比，NKT细胞产生的CD69表达水平在创伤患者中显着上调。此外，α-GalCer刺激后，创伤患者的膜联蛋白V + NKT细胞显着增加。与HC相比，创伤患者的血浆IL-6，IL-8和TNF-α水平更高。特别地，在这些细胞因子的存在下，NKT细胞对α-GalCer的增殖反应显着降低。在用针对这些细胞因子的封闭抗体处理后，这种减少部分地得以恢复。这项研究表明，在创伤患者中，循环中的NKT细胞在数量上不足，并且在IFN-γ产生方面功能受损。这些发现为创伤相关的先天免疫反应提供了重要的见识。在这些细胞因子的存在下，NKT细胞对α-GalCer的增殖反应显着降低。在用针对这些细胞因子的封闭抗体处理后，这种减少部分地得以恢复。这项研究表明，在创伤患者中，循环中的NKT细胞在数量上不足，并且在IFN-γ产生方面功能受损。这些发现为创伤相关的先天免疫反应提供了重要的见识。在这些细胞因子的存在下，NKT细胞对α-GalCer的增殖反应显着降低。在用针对这些细胞因子的封闭抗体处理后，这种减少部分地得以恢复。这项研究表明，在创伤患者中，循环中的NKT细胞在数量上不足，并且功能性受损。这些发现为创伤相关的先天免疫反应提供了重要的见识。
免疫学杂志