Effect of surgical trauma (gastrectomy) on cell-mediated and humoral responses in mice.

Gastrectomy in mice affects the cell-mediated (CMI) and humoral immunity in a diverse fashion, such as CMI (contact sensitivity reaction) is severely impaired and antibody response is enhanced. Both effects are transient and disappear several days after surgery. While suppression of contact sensitivity is mediated by non-specific Ly 1-2+, L-J+ suppressor T cells generated by surgical stress, the mechanisms of enhancement of antibody response is unknown. We assume that the split unresponsiveness induced by surgical trauma has a clear survival advantage. Increased antibody production is the major defence mechanism against bacterial infections, while decrease of CMI prevents autoimmune response against altered (damaged) self structures.