Intra-articular ankle fracture (IAF) often leads to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), resulting in significant long-term morbidity. While previous research has focused on the inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases within the synovial fluid fracture hematoma (SFFH), the immune cell populations within SFFH that contribute to PTOA development remain underexplored. This study aimed to characterize the immune cell populations in SFFH to better understand their role in the inflammatory response and potential for inducing lasting cartilage damage. Twenty-four patients with IAF underwent surgical ankle aspiration to collect SFFH, which was analyzed using polychromatic flow cytometry. The analysis revealed that 72.8% of the CD45+ cells were lymphocytes, predominantly CD3+ T cells (76.5%), with 42.1% being CD4+ and 39.2% CD8+ T cells. Additionally, monocytes accounted for 21.2% of CD45+ cells, with small populations of natural killer cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells also present. These findings emphasize the predominance of T cells, particularly CD4+ subsets, in the immune response following IAF. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing targeted interventions to prevent PTOA. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific roles of these immune cell populations in PTOA progression and exploring potential therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: T cell subsets; adaptive immune response; cartilage damage; cytokines; flow cytometry; immune cell profiling; inflammatory response; intra-articular ankle fracture (IAF); post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA); synovial fluid fracture hematoma (SFFH).