Objective: To demonstrate whether the cerebral hemispheres (language dominant versus nondominant) affect immune function differentially in humans by delineating the effects of resections for epilepsy surgery on T-cell indices.
Background: Cerebral lateralization has been postulated to affect immunomodulation. Differential effects of left versus right cerebral lesions on T-cell numbers and responsiveness have been demonstrated in animals, but the effects in humans are unclear.
Methods: Pre- and postoperative changes in T-cell indices were examined in relation to side of language dominance in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.
Results: Absolute lymphocyte count, total T cells (CD3+), helper T cells (CD3+4+), cytotoxic/suppressor cells (CD3+8+), and total suppressor cells (CD8+) were reduced after language-dominant resections, but were increased after nondominant resections.
Conclusions: Although the mechanisms are not fully elucidated, the results demonstrate differential immunologic responses in humans to focal cerebral lesions as a function of cerebral lateralization.