Procalcitonin (PCT) is an excellent inflammatory marker for early diagnosis of sepsis. However, little is known about its immunological functions.
Objective: The aim of our work was to determine the effect of recombinant human (rh) PCT on blastic transformation of lymphocytes.
Methods: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 9 healthy volunteers were isolated on Ficoll-Metrizoat gradient and cultivated with polyclonal mitogens phytohemaglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without rhPCT. RhPCT was added to the cultures in four different final concentrations.
Results: 1. RhPCT significantly inhibited the blastic transformation of PHA activated T-lymphocytes (by 14-26%) as well as the simultaneous activation of T cells with rhPCT and PHA (21%). 2. RhPCT significantly decreased the ability of T cells stimulated by Con A either simultaneously (13-19%) or subsequently (21-41%). 3. RhPCT increased the activity of unstimulated autologous lymphocytes.
Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that rhPCT suppressed the activity of both PHA and Con A stimulated T-cells, however it increased the activity of unstimulated lymphocytes. The results indicate that in vivo production of PCT in septic patients might contribute to a suppression of the hyperactivated specific cellular immunity.