Expression of adhesion molecules and activation markers on lymphocytes and monocytes during hemodialysis

Patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing chronic hemodialysis manifest alterations in cell-mediated immune response despite adequate urea clearance. We conducted a clinical trial in 8 patients (6 male, 2 female; 57.6 +/- 19.0 years) to investigate cell subsets and adhesion molecules on mononuclear blood cells during hemodialysis in patients on either cuprophane (n = 60 or polysulfone (n = 2). Cells were analyzed from the arterial line before, at 5, 10, 15, 30, 90 and 240 min with a panel of 33 surface markers including antibodies towards CD3, CD4, TCR-alpha/beta, CD7, CD8, CD11a-c, CD14, CD18, CD19, CD25, CD28, CD29, CD38, CD44, CD49a-e, CD51/61, CD54, CD56, CD58, CD62, CD106, and HLA class II using single fluorescence analysis. In vivo results were compared with in vitro tests. Our results suggest a substantial difference in the expression of various surface markers and cell adhesion molecules (lymphocytes: CD4, CD25, CD28, CD51, CD54; monocytes: CD49, CD54, CD58, CD62E, CD62P) compared to healthy persons, and a distinct modulation during hemodialysis (lymphocytes: CD11, CD18, CD49, CD51, CD61; monocytes: CD29, CD49, CD51, CD54, CD61) which might affect the immune response beyond the single dialysis session.