[Intrahepatic and peripheral blood NK cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between NK (natural killers) cells in an inflammatory infiltration of the liver and in peripheral blood in children with chronic hepatitis type C.


METHODS
The study comprised 25 children with chronic hepatitis type C. The control group comprised 10 children with no liver disease in past medical history and normal activity of aminotransferases. In the study group, liver biopsy specimens were evaluated by histopathology and immunomorphology - the presence of NK cells present in the inflammatory infiltrate was determined. In all children the percentage and absolute count of NK cells in peripheral blood was evaluated by flow cytometry, as well as the activity of NK cells in relation to leukaemic cells of erythroleukemia K-562 without stimulation and after the stimulation with IL-2 (in vitro).


RESULTS
In the studied group of children NK cells constituted 6.07 +/- 3.92 % of cells present in liver infiltrate. In peripheral blood NK cells constituted 11.68 +/- 6.73 % of white blood cells, and their absolute number was 241.08 +/- 128.56 /ml. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells in dilution E:T 25:1 was - 91.8 +/- 1.07 % and in dilution E:T 12.5:1 - 6.72 +/- 3.68 %. After stimulation with IL-2 it was 92.8 +/-1.01 % and 7.58 +/- 3.95 %, respectively. The number of NK cells in peripheral blood and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the studied group did not differ from that of the control group. There was a positive correlation between the percentage of NK cells in the liver infiltrate and the absolute number of NK cells in the peripheral blood and between percentage of NK cells in the inflammatory infiltrate and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in peripheral blood, stimulated and non-stimulated with IL-2 in proportion E:T 12.5:1.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive correlation between the number of NK cells in peripheral blood and liver infiltrate suggests the possibility of evaluating NK cells involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis type C in children on the basis of peripheral blood tests.
Woźniakowska-Gesicka
Teresa
T
III Klinika Pediatrii, Instytut Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki, ul. Rzgowska 281/289, 93-338 Łódź, Poland.
Wi niewska-Ligier
Małgorzata
M
Kałuzyński
Andrzej
A
Turant
Maria
M
Pokoca
Lech
L
Płaneta-Małecka
Izabela
I
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers