RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effects of different concentrations of ketamine on the differentiation of human T helper (Th) cells.Methods Twenty ASA Ⅰ patients (aged 20-60 years) undergoing elective operation under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study.Peripheral venous blood samples were taken before anesthesia.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and divided randomly into three groups (n =20 each):being incubated in the presence of 0.9％ NaCl (group C),2.5 μg/ml ketamine (group K1) and 25.0 μg/ml ketamine (group K2),respectively,for 24 hours,and were then stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin for 48 hours,respectively.The percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by four-color fluorescence flow cytometry.The Th1/Th2 ratio was calculated.The levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2),IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,immunoreactive fibronectin-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the supernatant were determined by cytometric bead array.Results There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,IFN-γ and TNF-α in the supernatant,the percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells and the ratio of Th1/Th2 among groups C,K1 and K2(P＞ 0.05).Conclusion The sedative and anesthetic concentrations of ketamine exert no effect on the differentiation of human Th cells in vitro.