Peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes in patients with burns. II. Sequential rosette analyses considering burn severity and pseudomonas sepsis

Evaluation of E and EAC rosette-forming cells in patients with thermal injuries

Thermal injuries lead to changes in both the cell-mediated and humoral responses of the patient. This study was undertaken to assess these responses in the post-burn period and also to see if bacterial infection altered these responses. It has been concluded that alterations in the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses following thermal injuries are altered by infection and consequently are also important in the healing process.

Cellular immune response following thermal injury in human patients

Cellular immune response was studied longitudinally for a period of 1 month in a group of 51 patients sustaining burns between 20 and 55 per cent of their body surface area. The results indicated lymphocytopenia and significant depression in the total T cells in all the patients. T cells showed a significant rise in their levels in those patients who showed clinical improvement. Further, the loss of expression of 'E' receptor correlated with the lowering of the protein-synthesizing capacity of the mononuclear cells. The functional integrity of the lymphocytes also showed an inability to recognize and stimulate normal alloantigens in an MLR reaction. Investigation of the mechanisms responsible for immunosuppression revealed the generation of T suppressor activity.

Cellular immune mechanisms in thermally injured mice

An attempt was made to establish an animal model for analysing the cellular immune alterations following thermal injury and to correlate the results with those obtained in humans. A standard burn involving 20 per cent of the body surface area was established in C57 black mice (b1). The results revealed a loss of total T cells until post-burn day 10 and an increase in B cells only during post-burn day 1. The lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA was elevated with the appearance of null cells on post-burn day 10. This observation revealed a generalized depression in the immune responses which was significant until post-burn day 10. However, the results were not comparable with the human studies.

Cellular immunity in burns

Evaluation of cellular immunity in burns was undertaken using the following parameters: T-cell count; blastoid transformation and macrophage migration inhibition factor index (MIF). Their influence upon bactericidal index was also measured as T-cell count per mm3 and in percentage was found to be depressed in parallel, probably due to some cellular immune in parallel, probably due to some cellular immune functions active at the burned site. Blastoid transformation and MIF index were found to be depressed in parallel especially in major burns, i.e. above 25 per cent. These parameters had a significant influence upon the bactericidal index thus enhancing its activity to a considerable extent when values of the former were approaching near normal limits.