Clinical Research
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2008; 14(15): 2377-2382
Published online Apr 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2377
Changes in count and function of splenic lymphocytes from patients with portal hypertension
Zong-Fang Li, Shu Zhang, Gao-Bo Lv, Ying Huang, Wei Zhang, Song Ren, Jun Yang, Shuang-Suo Dang
Zong-Fang Li, Shu Zhang, Gao-Bo Lv, Wei Zhang, Song Ren, Department of General Surgery in Cadres Ward, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Ying Huang, Jun Yang, Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Shuang-Suo Dang, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Li ZF designed the research; Zhang S, Lv GB, Zhang W and Ren S performed the research; Huang Y, Yang J and Dang SS contributed to reagents/materials/analytic work; Huang Y and Yang J analyzed the data; and Zhang S and Li ZF wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Zong-Fang Li, Department of General Surgery in Cadres Ward, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West 5th Road, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China. lzf2568@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-29-87678006
Fax: +86-29-87678634
Received: January 3, 2008
Revised: February 25, 2008
Published online: April 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate changes in numbers and proliferative function of splenic lymphocytes in patients with hypersplenism due to portal hypertension (PH), to provide evidence for further study of immune status of the spleen during PH.

METHODS: Twelve spleens from patients with hypersplenism due to PH served as the PH group, and four spleens from cases of traumatic spleen rupture were regarded as the control group. After weighing the spleen, lymphocytes were separated and counted using a cell counting plate to calculate the lymphocyte count per gram of spleen tissue (relative quantity) and total lymphocyte count in whole spleen (absolute quantity). The immunohistochemical SP method was used to observe the density and distribution of lymphocytes in the spleen. The MTT method was used to observe changes in lymphocyte proliferative function.

RESULTS: As compared to the control group, the splenic lymphocytes in the PH group showed that: (1) There was no difference in distribution but a significant decrease in density; (2) the number of lymphocytes per gram of spleen (relative quantity) decreased significantly [(0.822 ± 0.157) × 108vs (1.174 ± 0.254) × 108, P < 0.01]; (3) with the significant increase in the weight of the PH spleen (832.6 ± 278.2 g vs 211.7 ± 85.6 g, P < 0.01), the total quantity of lymphocytes (absolute quantity) increased significantly [(0.685 ± 0.072) × 1011vs (0.366 ± 0.057) × 1011, P < 0.01]; and (4) the proliferative function of lymphocytes was enhanced: T lymphocytes, (0.022 ± 0.005 vs 0.015 ± 0.003, P < 0.05), and B lymphocytes (0.034 ± 0.006 vs 0.023 ± 0.001, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Although lymphocyte density in the spleen decreased in patients with PH, the total quantity of lymphocytes increased because spleen weight increased greatly, along with the proliferating function. With respect to changes in lymphocytes, PH spleens may still have immune function, although it may be disordered. However, complete evaluation of the immune function of the spleen in PH requires more research.

Keywords: Portal hypertension, Spleen, Lymphocyte, Immune function