J Trauma
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Mild hypothermia reduces expression of heat shock protein 60 in leukocytes from severely head-injured patients.
Infectious complications are among the most serious problems that occur in severely head-injured patients treated with mild hypothermia. The mechanism underlying the susceptibility to infection has not been clarified. Heat shock protein (HSP) 60 has been reported to play an essential role in innate immunity. Thus, we conducted a study to clarify the impact of mild hypothermia on the expression of HSPs in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in severely head-injured patients. ⋯ Mild hypothermia reduces the expression of HSP60 in PMNLs from severely head-injured patients. Thus, mild hypothermia may suppress innate immunity.