The expression of CD38 ADP-ribosyl cyclase ectoenzyme in immune cells of cardiac surgical patients

This study was aimed at following the changes in the expression of CD38 ADP-ribosyl cyclase ectoenzyme on peripheral blood immune cells of patients undergoing cardiac surgical operations. The expression of CD38 on lymphoid and myeloid cells was determined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry in forty cardiac surgical patients assigned to surgery either using ("on-pump", n=20) or without the use ("off-pump", n=20) of cardiopulmonary bypass. There was a very rapid upregulation of CD38 expression in "on-pump" patients, becoming significant at declamping of aorta (p