Related Experiment Videos
Cellular immunity in hemodialysis patients: a quantitative analysis of immune cell subsets by flow cytometry
S S Deenitchina1, T Ando, S Okuda
12nd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Hemodialysis patients exhibit significant immune cell alterations, including lymphopenia and changes in T cell subsets. These quantitative immune dysregulations are characteristic of end-stage renal disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Hematology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are associated with immune dysregulation.
- Hemodialysis (HD) is a common treatment for ESRD, but its impact on immune cell populations requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively analyze immune cell subsets in hemodialysis patients.
- To identify specific alterations in T cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta+, TCR gamma delta+, CD4+, CD8+, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells.
Main Methods:
- Two-color flow cytometry was used to analyze immune cell subsets in 129 hemodialysis patients.
- Immune cell populations were compared to normal control values.
Main Results:
- Hemodialysis patients showed lymphopenia with decreased absolute counts of most immune cell subsets.
- Increased proportions of CD3+, TCR alpha beta+, and CD4+ T lymphocytes were observed.
- A higher percentage of activated TCR alpha beta + DR+ cells and a lower proportion of B lymphocytes were found.
- Relative values for TCR gamma delta+ cells, CD8+ lymphocytes, and NK cells did not differ significantly from controls.
Conclusions:
- Hemodialysis patients exhibit profound quantitative alterations in immune cells, particularly T cell subsets.
- These immune cell changes contribute to the immune dysregulation observed in chronic renal failure.
- Further research is needed to understand the clinical implications of these immune alterations.
Abstract:
Immune cell subsets, when measured by two-color flow cytometry in a population of 129 hemodialysis patients, showed significant variance from normal values. Lymphopenia, decreased absolute counts, and altered percentage values of immune cells were found. Increased proportions of CD3+, T cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta + cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes were present. An abnormally high percentage of a subset of activated TCR alpha beta + cells (alpha beta + DR+) was also seen in hemodialysis patients. The proportion of B lymphocytes was found to be significantly lower as compared with controls. Relative values for TCR gamma delta+cells, both for activated (gamma delta + DR+) and nonactivated (gamma delta + DR-) subsets, as well as for CD8+ lymphocytes and natural killer cells did not vary from those of normal controls. Also, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio showed no significant change. Analysis of absolute counts of the investigated immune cell populations revealed significantly decreased numbers for the majority of subsets, as a result of the preexisting lymphocytopenia, characteristic of end-stage renal disease. We conclude that profound quantitative alterations of immune cells, including TCR+T cells subsets, exist in hemodialysis patients. These account, at least in part, for the immune dysregulation associated with chronic renal failure.