Journal of Medical Sciences (Jan 2016)

MicroRNA-125a expression in isolated lymphocytes and decreased regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted production during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

  • Tso-Chou Lin,
  • Go-Shine Huang,
  • Shinn-Long Lin,
  • Yi-Chang Lin,
  • Hung-Yen Ke,
  • Yi-Ting Tsai,
  • Chih-Yuan Lin,
  • Zhi-Fu Wu,
  • Chi-Yuan Li,
  • Chien-Sung Tsai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/1011-4564.196370
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 36, no. 6
pp. 234 – 239

Abstract

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Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces postoperative immunosuppression, including decreased T-cells and lower plasma regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) concentrations. MicroRNA-125a negatively regulates RANTES expression in activated T-cells. The aims were to investigate microRNA-125a expression in T-cells and RANTES production following CPB. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included in this study. Arterial blood was sampled at six sequential points (before anesthesia induction, before CPB, at 2, 4, 6, and 24 h after beginning CPB) for plasma RANTES concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T-lymphocytes were isolated from whole blood at four points (before anesthesia, before CPB, at 2 and 4 h after beginning CPB) for intracellular microRNA-125a expression by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 14 patients. Perioperative laboratory data and variables were also recorded. Results: The plasma RANTES concentrations decreased significantly at 2-24 h after beginning CPB, with concurrent reduction of postoperative lymphocyte counts, as compared with the preanesthesia level (P < 0.001). Intra-T-cell microRNA-125a expression was activated at 2 and 4 h, however, without significance (P = 0.078 and 0.124, respectively). The plasma RANTES levels at 4 h were not correlated with CPB time (P = 0.671), anesthesia time (P = 0.305), postoperative extubation time (P = 0.508), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (P = 0.756). Three patients expired with pneumonia- or mediastinitis-related septic shock in the ICU. Conclusion: Plasma RANTES concentrations were depressed till 24 h following CPB, with reduced lymphocytes after cardiac surgery. MicroRNA-125a expression in T-lymphocytes was not correlated with perioperative variables and its role in downregulation of RANTES production needs to be determined.

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