engleski

Lymphocyte perforin expression and NK-cell cytotoxicity in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Cell-mediated cytotoxicity can be modulated during the stress response. Aims of the study were to examine the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the measures of immune function and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis components and to determine whether additional life stressor affects measured variables. We simultaneously examined the natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC), perforin and glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) expression in natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T (CD8) cells, as well as serum cortisol concentration in a group of Croatian war veterans with chronic, combat-related PTSD (n = 29) and a group of healthy, age-matched men (n = 13). PTSD patients were divided into two subgroups: retired or compensation non-seeking (n = 14) and compensation seeking (n = 15) subjects, the latter including those involved in the process of getting disability based army retirement as an additional life stressor. NKCC was decreased in both PTSD groups when compared to controls. Impairment of NKCC could not be attributed to the perforin expression as these parameters were not changed in comparison to controls. Furthermore, increased levels of perforin were recorded in NK-cells of retired PTSD subjects. Both PTSD groups shared an increased relative quantity of GCRs in lymphocytes, whereas there was no difference between the groups in the baseline levels of serum cortisol. Diminished NKCC is not accompanied by perforin insufficiency in PTSD subjects and alternative reasons should be examined. An additional life stressor does not contribute considerably to either immune or hormone changes.

NK-cells; perforin; posttraumatic stress disorder; war veterans

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