Fig. 2
Changes in monocyte function after surgery. Functional properties of the circulating MO were tested using, phagocytosis assays (a), ability to stimulate allogeneic T cells (b), functional plasticity by incubate cells in vitro with IL-4 and GM-CSF and measuring an emergence of DC specific marker (c) or ability to induce proliferative T cells response. a There was a significant increase (t0: Mean = 10.7 ± 0.05 vs t3m: Mean = 1.64 ± 0.49 CI 95% : Δx = [0.23, 0.90]; p = 0.003; d = 1.36) in the phagocytic capabilities of peripheral blood monocytes taken from patients at 3 months after the surgery, as shown by uptake of zymosan. b The ability of peripheral blood monocytes to stimulate allogeneic T cells was significantly (t0: Mean = 0.65 ± 0.13 vs t3m: Mean = 0.46 ± 0.31; CI 95% Δx [− 0.33, − 0.04]; p = 0.016; d = − 0.68) diminished at 3 months. c There was a significant decline in the emergence of CD1a(+) (immature DC marker) (t0: Me = 1964.58; IQR[745.82, 7586.04] vs t3m: Me = 519.19; IQR[428.24, 785.52]; CI95%: ΔpMe[761.49, 5459.51]; p = < 0.001; CLES = 1.0) and CD83 (mature DC marker) (t0: Me = 64.72; IQR[43.22, 82.55] vs t3m: Me = 445.24; IQR[240.07, 747.04]; CI95%: ΔpMe [101.62, 964.67]; p = 0.047; CLES = 0.75). d Stimulation with IL-4 and GM-CSF did not recover MO ability to stimulate T cells to pre-CPB levels (t0: Me = 39.50; IQR[30.75, 48.50] vs t3m: Me = 26.40; IQR[18.25, 34.00]; ΔRank = 21.50; CI 95%  = [6.83, 36.17]; p = 0.015; CLES = 0.83). Asterisk indicate data points which were significantly different when compared vs baseline. CI 95% : Δx-95% confidence interval for difference in means. CI 95% : 95% confidence interval for difference in sum of ranks. CI95%: ΔpMe-95% confidence interval for difference in pseudomedians