Background: Sepsis is a serious condition with a high mortality rate, and septic patients often have organ dysfunction, low tissue perfusion and hypoxia, lactic acidosis, oliguria, or functional brain changes.
Objective: To observe the number and the function of Vδ1T cells in peripheral blood of septic patients, to analyze the clinical significance of detecting Vδ1T cells, and to clarify the correlation of their presence with the prognosis of sepsis.
Methods: The basic data of the septic patients were recorded at admission. The immunosuppressive function–related molecules on the surface of Vδ1T cells were detected, and the immunosuppressive function of Vδ1T cells was also evaluated.
Results: Compared with the healthy controls, the proportion of Vδ1T cells in the blood of septic patients significantly decreased (P<0.01). The proportion of Vδ1T cells in septic patients correlated with the patients’ condition (P<0.05). The expression of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3) on the surface of Vδ1T cells in the blood of septic patients significantly increased (P<0.01). The increase of Vδ1T cells in septic patients had inhibitory effects on T cell proliferation and interferon (IFN)-γ secretion. These findings implied that the immunosuppression of Vδ1Tcells in the peripheral blood of septic patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Changes in Vδ1T cells in septic patients were closely related to the patient’s condition and prognosis.