CD177 expression in β-thalassemia patients in Zagazig University

Abstract

Background Human neutrophil-specific antigen CD177 has an important role in various hematological, clinical, and immunological syndromes. Individuals with thalassemia were found to show an elevation in CD177 expression, which may be correlated with hematopoietic activity.Patients and methods Our case–control study was carried out at Clinical Pathology and Pediatric Hematology Departments, Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. This study was conducted on 80 (68) patients divided into two groups − group 1 included 34 patients diagnosed with β-thalassemia major, and group 2 included 34 apparently healthy individuals (control). All were subjected to routine clinical, laboratory, and radiological examination, as well as special laboratory examination: CD177% and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of gated neutrophils by flow cytometry and soluble transferrin receptor (sTFR) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.Results There was a statistically significant difference as regards CD177 (MFI) and sTFR in thalassemia patients when compared with the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant correlation between CD177 (MFI) or percentage with both fetal hemoglobin and sTFR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that CD177 (MFI) is more sensitive but less specific than sTFR.Conclusion CD177 on gated neutrophils was increased in thalassemia patients but not correlated with their erythropoietic activity.