Naslov
Changes of Cytoloytic Cells and Perforin Expression in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Autori
Škarpa, Ivona ; Rubeša, Gordana ; Moro, Ljiljana ; Manestar, Darko ; Petrovečki, Mladen ; Rukavina, Daniel

Izvornik
Croatian Medical Journal (0353-9504) 42 (2001), 5; 551-555

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Antigens CD56; Natural killer cells; Membrane proteins; Post-traumatic stress disorder; cytotoxic T-lymphocytes; veterans; war

Sažetak
Aim is to define phenotipic characteristics of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer cells (NK) in peripheral blood, frequency of somatic symptoms, and level of anxiety and depression in 25 patients clinically diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients were divided into two sub-groups according to the stressor: 18 PTSD patients with combat experience and 7 PTSD patients with combat experienca who were tortured as the prisoners of war (POW) in Bosnian-Serbian camps. The control group consisted of 15 healthy volunteers matched to the patients by sex and age. We tested all patients using the Beck Depression Inventory, Spilberg anxiety test, and somatic disturbance list, and analyzed their peripheral blood lymphocytes using flow cytometry with the double flourescence staining of cell surface antigens (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, and CD56) and intra cellular cytolytic molecule perforin (P) a mediator of cytolytic action at the molecular level. All PTSD patients showed a significant level of anxiety, depression and numerous somatic symptoms. The only difference between PTSD patients with and without POW experience was in the anxiety level (median, 71 ; range 61-79 ; vs median, 65 ; range 49-77). PTSD patients with POW experience had significantly higher level of CD16+ cells (median, 37% ; range 16-55%) than those without it (median, 12% ; range 5-37%). Double labelling for intracellular P antigen and cell surface antigens showed the highest of CD16+P+ (median 33% ; range 15-40% ; vs median, 10% ; range 3-29%) and CD56+P+ (median, 21% ; range 11-40% vs median, 8% ; range 1-30%) cells in PTSD-POW patients. In conclusion: chronic PTSD patients who survived concentration camps show the most numerous alterations in PBL phenotype, the highest number of perforine-containing cells, and a significantly higher level of anxiety.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA