Appearance of spontaneously Ig secreting B cells in human peripheral blood after surgery

Lymphoblastoid B cells, spontaneously secreting specific antibodies of IgG and IgA classes, are constantly detected after in-vivo immunization and represent a sensitive marker of a recent antigenic exposure. In this study we demonstrate that surgical trauma is followed, at a well-defined time after surgery, by the appearance of circulating lymphoblastoid B cells spontaneously secreting IgG and IgA. The kinetics and the functional behaviour of this B cell subset are identical to those of lymphoblastoid B cells observed after in-vivo immunization. Our data indicate that surgical trauma activates a humoral immune response. Antigens released by traumatized tissues or encountered through breaches in skin or mucous membranes might initiate the reaction.