T cell subpopulations and cytokine levels in hemodialysis patients

HD patients have impaired adaptive immune responses, which might depend on the primary cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We analyzed percentages of T cells subpopulations with the expression of CD69, CD25, CD95, and HLA-DR antigens in HD patients to determine the status of T cell activation. Also, we determined serum levels of cytokines: IL12p70, TNF, IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8. HD patients had increased percentages of CD4⁺CD25⁺, CD4⁺CD69⁺, CD4⁺HLA-DR⁺, CD8⁺CD69⁺, and CD8⁺HLA-DR⁺ cells compared to healthy people. Also, their IL-6 and IL-8 serum levels were higher. Changes in T cell subpopulations were seen in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) or ischemic nephropathy (IN) but not with glomerulonephritis (GN). HD patients dialyzed for more than six months had a lower percentage of CD4⁺CD69⁺, CD8⁺HLA-DR⁺, CD8⁺CD95⁺ cells, higher IL-12p70 levels, and lower IL-8 levels. Our results show that HD treatment and CKD cause influence T cell activation status.