Clinical and diagnostic significance of determining lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokines in patients with traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous group of traumatic brain injuries, the heterogeneity of which is due not only to the variability of anatomical forms and biomechanics of damaging effects, but also to the degree of development of the neuroinflammatory process as a reaction to damage, followed by the involvement of cells of the innate immune response, followed by increased production of cytokines/chemokines, as well as recruitment to the injury zonee T- and B-lymphocytes.

AIM. to assess the relationship between changes in immunological parameters and the course of the post-traumatic period of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. 110 patients with TBI of varying severity aged from 18 to 55 years. Neuropsychological examination and evaluation of the outcomes of the disease were carried out according to the extended Glasgow and Rankin scale. The content of subpopulations of T- and B-lymphocytes was determined in venous blood, the level of cytokines and chemokines was determined in cerebrospinal fluid.

RESULTS. Significant correlations have been established between subpopulations of lymphocytes in peripheral blood (Th EM, Th2, eBm5) and disease outcomes, as well as the development of cognitive impairment. There were significant correlations between the outcomes of the disease and the content of cytokines (IL-6, IL-18, sCD40L) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

The analysis of correlations allowed us to evaluate the role of individual subpopulations of lymphocytes and cytokines in predicting the course of traumatic illness. Thus, the severity of the post-traumatic period of TBI is largely determined by the activity of the immune response, followed by secondary damage to the nervous tissue and maintenance of neuroinflammation.

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