Related Experiment Videos
The function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes after surgical trauma
Abstract:
The effect of surgical trauma on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was studied by measuring the hexosemonophosphate shunt (HMS) activity and myeloperoxidase mediated iodination during phagocytosis. Patients submitted to elective general surgery showed normal iodination capacity and normal HMS activity in their PMN cells postoperatively. This implies that postoperative infectious complications are not caused or promoted by defective PMN cell function. Iodination was found significantly (p less than 0.05) impaired in phagocytosing PMN cells from burned patients whereas it was found normal in traumatic and septic conditions. No direct relation between extent of injury and degree of leukocyte impairment was found. HMS activity remained normal in burned patients suggesting that the impaired iodination might depend on a defective mobilization of lysosomal enzymes.
Insights
Surgical trauma does not impair polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function, suggesting infections are not due to defective PMN cells. However, burn injuries significantly impair PMN iodination capacity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are crucial for innate immunity.
- Surgical trauma can potentially affect immune cell function, impacting infection risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of surgical trauma on human PMN function.
- To assess if PMN dysfunction contributes to postoperative infectious complications.
Main Methods:
- Measuring hexosemonophosphate shunt (HMS) activity during phagocytosis.
- Assessing myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination in PMN cells.
Main Results:
- Postoperative elective general surgery patients exhibited normal PMN iodination and HMS activity.
- Burned patients showed significantly impaired PMN iodination (p < 0.05), while traumatic and septic patients had normal function.
- HMS activity remained normal in burned patients, suggesting impaired iodination may stem from defective lysosomal enzyme mobilization.
Conclusions:
- Defective PMN cell function is unlikely to cause or promote postoperative infectious complications after general surgery.
- Impaired iodination in burn patients suggests a specific defect in PMN response to this type of injury.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind impaired iodination in burn patients.