Cellular immune response following head injury

Abstract

The incidence of head injuries is increasing particularly in cities. The aim was to study cellular immune response during the first 24 hours following head injuries among men aged 41-60 years and older. Methods: Altogether, 90 men aged 41-60 years were enrolled within 24 hours after head injury. Phenotypes of lymphocytes CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD71+, CD8+, CD16+, CD25+, CD95+, HLA-DR+, CD10+ were studied. Results. Proportion of mature T-lymphocytes increased in parallel with the increase of severity of trauma (11.1 % in mild traumas vs. 37.5 % in severe cases). In cases with average degree of trauma low concentrations of activators were detected (CD25+ = 0,23 ± 0,03 • 109 c/l; CD71+ = 0,24 ± 0,01 • 109 c/l and HLA-DR+ = 0,26 ± 0,02 • 109 c/l) combined with T-cells deficiency. Concentrations of CD8+ and CD95+ increase with the severity of the trauma: (0,64 ± 0,04) - (0,76 ± 0,01) • 109 c/l; (0,51 ± 0,02) - (0,56 ± 0,01) • 109 c/l, respectively. Conclusions: An increase in helper-suppressor ratio (k > 2) due to T-helpers as a compensation for low concentrations of CD5+, CD3+, CD25+, CD71+ and HLA-DR+ seems to be associated with favorable prognosis. In severe head injuries a decrease in helpersuppressor ratio (k < 2) accompanied by CD5+, CD3+ deficiency can be explained by an increase in CD8+. An increase in cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes during the first 24 hours after trauma may be associated with unfavorable prognosis.