CD8(+) T cells express a T-helper 1--like phenotype after burn injury.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies suggest that CD8(+) T cells are immunosuppressive after burn injury, but recent reports indicate that CD8(+) T cells have several functions similar to CD4(+) T cells, including the secretion of cytokines. This study uses HY male antigen in transgenic HY female mice to determine the antigen-specific response of activated CD8(+) T cells after burn injury.

METHODS:

HY TCR transgenic female mice underwent burn or sham injury. Seventy-two hours after the burn, splenocytes were stimulated with 20 micromol/L HY peptide for 16, 48, and 64 hours; cellular proliferation, intracellular interferon-gamma and interleukin-2, and apoptosis were measured.

RESULTS:

Burn injury significantly impaired proliferation to HY antigen (P < or =.05). Activated CD8(+) T cells from burned mice showed increased intracellular interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 16 hours after stimulation compared with sham (P < or =.05) and at no time was less than control mice. The percent of CD8(+) T cells decreased with the time of stimulation but was not due to apoptosis by Annexin V staining.

CONCLUSIONS:

Activated CD8(+) T cells express a T(h1)-like phenotype after burn injury. This provides evidence that CD8(+) T cells are not simply suppressive and that is consistent with data that CD4(+) T cells are primed for a T(h1) response after burn injury.

• Authors: B A Cairns, R Maile, I Buchanan, D Pilati, S DeSerres, E J Collins, J A Frelinger, A A Meyer
• Journal: Surgery (Surgery) Vol. 130 Issue 2 Pg. 210-6 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 0039-6060 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11490351 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (immunology)
• Burns (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (cytology, immunology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Immunophenotyping
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell (genetics, immunology)
• Spleen (cytology, immunology)
• Th1 Cells (cytology, immunology)