Effects of resuscitation fluids on T cell immune responses

This study was designed to determine whether dextran, gelatin or hydroxyethyl starch-based colloidal resuscitation fluids (CRF) are inhibitory to T lymphocyte activation and mitogenesis in vitro. Isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors were activated with mitogen (PHA) and cultured in up to 50% v:v CRF. Dual-label flow cytometry for CD69 and CD25 were used to assess early and full T cell activation responses, respectively, and thymidine incorporation was used to assess mitogenesis. T cell activation and mitogenic responses were not inhibited in the presence of CRF, implying that any systemic immunodepression associated with CRF infusion is not directly related to CRF-mediated impairment of T cell activation.