title: [Cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in children with chronic type C hepatitis].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of NK cells in peripheral blood in children with chronic type C hepatitis, and to determine the correlation between the activity of NK cells and histopathological changes in the liver. The study included 25 children with chronic type C hepatitis. The control group consisted of 10 children without liver diseases in past medical history and normal activity of amino-transferases. In all children the activity of NK cells was evaluated in relation to leukaemic cells of erytroleukaemia K-562 without stimulation and after stimulation with IL-2 (in vitro), and the percentage and absolute count of NK cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the studied group of children NK cells accounted for 11.68 +/- 6.73% of peripheral white blood cells, and their count was 241.08 +/- 128.56/ml. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells was 91.8 +/- 1.07% in solution E:T 25:1; and 6.72 +/- 3.68% in solution E:T 12.5:1. After stimulation with IL-2 it was 92.8 +/- 1.01% and 7.58 +/- 3.95%, respectively. The count of NK cells in serum and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the studied group were not different from those of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key parameters of NK cells activity are not changed in children with chronic type C hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: III Klinika Pediatrii Instytutu Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki w Łodzi.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woźniakowska-Gesicka
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiśniewska-Ligier
authors.forename: Lech
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pokoca
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kupś
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2