Evaluation of Natural Killer Cells in HCV Patients undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus is a hepatotropic virus and one of the major causes of liver disease and a potential cause of substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Moreover, it is estimated that >184 million people have been infected with HCV (on the basis of positive anti-HCV antibody results), representing >2.8% of the world population. Natural killer cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are best known for their ability to mediate cytotoxicity and produce cytokines. The NK cells can be identified by flowcytometer as cells expressing CD56 in the absence of the CD3. In this study, the aim was to study the percentage of peripheral blood natural killer cells among chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing hemodialysis compared to chronic HCV patients with normal kidney functions by flowcytometry immunophenotyping. The percentage of NK cells was assessed using flowcytometric analysis on fresh whole blood obtained from 70 chronic HCV patients, 35 of which had end stage renal disease and the other 35 were free from kidney disease. Also, data regarding different laboratory parameters was extracted from patients’ files.