Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin is associated with rejuvenation of CD8+ T cell compartment in chronic renal failure patients.
BACKGROUND
A growing body of evidence suggests an impact of rHuEpo on the immune system.


METHODS
We assessed the impact of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) on the immunity of 11 chronic renal failure patients who did not require haemodialysis. Naïve (Tn), central (Tcm) and effectory memory (Tcm, Tem, TemRA) subsets of CD8+ T cells, memory-CMV-specific CD8+ T cells, titres of anti-CMV antibodies and activity of NK cells were evaluated during the first year of rHuEpo administration.


RESULTS
While the number of CD8 T cells did not change, significant change was found in their proportions. Percentage of Tn cells increased at the expense of Tcm cells. Appearing Tn cells were CD28+ increasing the total pool of CD28+ T cells. Together with decreasing number, Tcm cells changed to mainly CD28- Tcm cells. A 'move' towards the naïve compartment was also confirmed as the level of memory-CMV-specific CD8+ T cells decreased. Humoral immunity analysed as titres of anti-CMV antibodies as well as innate immunity measured as cytotoxicity of NK cells did not change during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the administration of rHuEpo caused rejuvenation of cellular CD8+ T-dependent immunity in our patients.
Trzonkowski
Piotr
P
Department of Histology and Immunology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Ul. Debinki 1, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland. ptrzon@amg.gda.pl
Debska-Slizien
Alicja
A
Myśliwski
Andrzej
A
Rutkowski
Bolesław
B
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins