No effect of transfusion transmitted virus viremia on the distribution and activation of peripheral lymphocytes in hemodialyzed patients.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to examine the distribution and activation of peripheral T cells in TTV positive (n = 32) and negative (n = 17) hemodialyzed patients. The control group (n = 20) consisted of healthy blood donors.


METHODS
TTV-DNA was detected by seminested PCR. CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56, CD3/HLA-DR, CD3/CD69 and the Th1/Th2 ratio of T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Circulating IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta levels were measured by ELISA in the sera.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19 values of HD subjects. In addition, the expression of both activation markers, HLA-DR and CD69, was significantly elevated in the TTV-positive and -negative HD groups compared to the controls, but not showing any difference from each other. The measurements of intracellular cytokines showed the enhanced occurrence of INF-gamma + CD4 T cells, and decreased appearance of IL-4 + CD4 lymphocytes in the HD groups without any significant difference between the TTV virus positive and negative patients. In addition, HD also elevated the expression of IL-10 in CD4 and CD8 (Th2) cells. There were only two significant changes in the levels of circulating cytokines: (a) IL-2 increased; (b) IL-13 decreased in both groups of HD patients compared to the controls, independently of TTV positivity or negativity.


CONCLUSIONS
We assume that transfusion-transmitted virus does not cause any specific change in the distribution and activation of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of hemodialyzed patients. Hemodialysis itself, however, results in a significant activation of peripheral T cells with the domination of increased production of Th1 type cytokines, IFN-gamma, IL-2, in contrast to the decreased synthesis of Th2 type cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13. Furthermore, the increased expression of IL-10 in the CD4 and CD8 cells of HD patients can be the sign of a contraregulatory Th2 activation as an answer on the Th1 effect.
Fodor
Bertalan
B
FMC Nephrology Center, Miskolc, Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Hungary. fodorb@fresenius.hu
Ladányi
Erzsébet
E
Aleksza
Magdolna
M
Takács
Mária
M
Lakos
Gabriella
G
Arkossy
Ottó
O
Koós
Aranka
A
Nagy
Attila
A
Széll
Júlia
J
Klenk
Nora
N
Sárváry
Eniko
E
Sipka
Sándor
S
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D022783:Torque teno virus; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens