Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Selective Harvesting of Marginating-hepatic Leukocytes
Published on: July 21, 2016
[Intrahepatic and peripheral blood NK cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C]
Teresa Woźniakowska-Gesicka1, Małgorzata Wi niewska-Ligier, Andrzej Kałuzyński
1III Klinika Pediatrii, Instytut Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki, ul. Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338 Łódź, Poland.
Insights
Natural killer (NK) cells in the liver and blood of children with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated. A positive correlation suggests peripheral blood tests can assess NK cell involvement in disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hepatology
- Pediatrics
Context:
- Chronic hepatitis C in children is a significant health concern.
- Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in immune responses to viral infections and liver inflammation.
- Understanding the distribution and activity of NK cells in pediatric hepatitis C is crucial for disease management.
Purpose:
- To investigate the correlation between NK cells in liver inflammatory infiltrates and peripheral blood in children with chronic hepatitis C.
- To assess the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in these children.
- To determine if peripheral blood NK cell parameters can reflect their presence and function within the liver.
Summary:
- This study analyzed 25 children with chronic hepatitis C, comparing NK cell presence in liver biopsies and peripheral blood via flow cytometry.
- NK cell counts and cytotoxic activity in peripheral blood did not significantly differ from controls.
- A positive correlation was found between NK cells in liver infiltrates and peripheral blood counts, as well as their cytotoxic activity.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that peripheral blood NK cell analysis may serve as a non-invasive method to evaluate NK cell involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C in children.
- This could lead to improved diagnostic and monitoring strategies for pediatric hepatitis C.
- Further research can explore therapeutic interventions targeting NK cells in this population.
Unlabelled:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between NK (natural killers) cells in an inflammatory infiltration of the liver and in peripheral blood in children with chronic hepatitis type C.
Material And Methods:
The study comprised 25 children with chronic hepatitis type C. The control group comprised 10 children with no liver disease in past medical history and normal activity of aminotransferases. In the study group, liver biopsy specimens were evaluated by histopathology and immunomorphology - the presence of NK cells present in the inflammatory infiltrate was determined. In all children the percentage and absolute count of NK cells in peripheral blood was evaluated by flow cytometry, as well as the activity of NK cells in relation to leukaemic cells of erythroleukemia K-562 without stimulation and after the stimulation with IL-2 (in vitro).
Results:
In the studied group of children NK cells constituted 6.07 +/- 3.92 % of cells present in liver infiltrate. In peripheral blood NK cells constituted 11.68 +/- 6.73 % of white blood cells, and their absolute number was 241.08 +/- 128.56 /ml. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells in dilution E:T 25:1 was - 91.8 +/- 1.07 % and in dilution E:T 12.5:1 - 6.72 +/- 3.68 %. After stimulation with IL-2 it was 92.8 +/-1.01 % and 7.58 +/- 3.95 %, respectively. The number of NK cells in peripheral blood and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the studied group did not differ from that of the control group. There was a positive correlation between the percentage of NK cells in the liver infiltrate and the absolute number of NK cells in the peripheral blood and between percentage of NK cells in the inflammatory infiltrate and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in peripheral blood, stimulated and non-stimulated with IL-2 in proportion E:T 12.5:1.
Conclusions:
Positive correlation between the number of NK cells in peripheral blood and liver infiltrate suggests the possibility of evaluating NK cells involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis type C in children on the basis of peripheral blood tests.
