Unconjugated bilirubin inhibits in vitro cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity of human lymphocytes

Yoshio Haga, Margaret A. Tempero, Rowen K. Zetterman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Septic complications have been major problems in the management of patients with obstructive jaundice and neonatal jaundice. This study investigates effects of bilirubin on human T lymphocyte responses against allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. In vitro exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) with unconjugated bilirubin at pathological levels (6 to 12 mg/dl) did not alter the subsets of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19 and CD56 positive populations, or expression of costimulatory surface molecules CD2, CD3, CD4 and CD8, Further incubation of bilirubin-treated PBMNC with irradiated B lymphoid Raji cells after removal of the extracellular bilirubin resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, DNA synthesis, and expression of Tac antigen (CD25) and transferrin receptor (CD71). However, no significant change of interleukin-2 (IL-2) production was observed after this incubation between bilirubin-treated and -untreated PBMNC. These results suggest that bilirubin inhibits the induction of CTL activity, and this defect may result from the impaired responsiveness against IL-2. These observations may help explain the increased infection observed in hyperbilirubinemic patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)65-70
Number of pages6
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
Volume1317
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 7 1996

Keywords

  • Bilirubin
  • Cytotoxicity
  • Major histocompatibility complex
  • T lymphocyte

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

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