Post-operative complications in patients with a significant post-operative decrease in γδT cells.

BACKGROUND: It has previously been shown that appropriate distribution of immune cells between different tissues and organs of the body is required for proper function of the immune system. Our previous work demonstrated that surgical trauma in mice induces γδT lymphocyte migration from peripheral blood to the peritoneal lymphoid organs. These described γδT cells have immunoregulatory activity as they suppress the cell-mediated immune response in vitro. We found a similar phenomenon in patients after different surgical operations. In the current study, we analyse post-operative complications in patients with a significant post-operative decrease in γδT cells.

METHODS: We investigated the percentage of γδT cells in peripheral blood of patients undergoing standard surgical procedures (gastric resection, colorectal resection, cholecystectomy and strumectomy) before and 3 days after the operation. The percentage of γδT cells was evaluated by the fluorescence-activated cell sorting cytofluorimeter. Patients were grouped based on the decrease of γδT cells. We compared the number of septic complications in patients with a large and small decrease in γδT cells.

RESULTS: After major surgery in the peritoneal cavity (gastric and colorectal surgery), in the group that had a large decrease in γδT cells we found significantly more septic complications than in the group of patients with small γδT decrease. That effect was not visible after less traumatic surgery.

CONCLUSION: Surgery results in a decreased percentage of γδT lymphocytes in the peripheral human blood which correlates with the number of septic complications. This observation may help to predict post-operative recovery after gastroabdominal surgery.