Determination of the level of CD4CD69 T cells in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

IntroductionThe CD4 helper T cell is responsible for humoral, cellular immunity, and inflammation. CD69 may be a sensitive marker indicating that the CD4 T cell is activated. The aim of this study is to determine CD4CD69 T cells for estimating the activation of CD4 T cells and to monitor hemodialysis (HD) outcome.Participants and methodsSixty-two HD patients and 50 controls were enrolled in our study. CD3, CD4, CD3CD69, and CD4CD69 T cell percentages were assessed by flow cytometry. Transferrin was determined using ELISA.ResultsThe lymphocyte count, the CD3 T cell percentage and CD4 T cell percentage were highly significantly lower, while the CD3CD69 T cell percentage and the CD4CD69 T cell percentage were highly significantly elevated. Mean fluorescence intensity of CD4CD69, 13.89 ± 2.38 (±SD), in the HD group was significantly increased than that of the controls, 13.12 ± 4.93 (±SD) (P < 0.001). On univariate regression analysis, the CD4CD69 T cell was negatively related to albumin [odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.159, 0.037–0.677; P = 0.013) and HD duration (OR, 95% CI: 1.189, 1.098–1.288; P < 0.001) and positively associated with transferrin (OR, 95% CI: 3.015, 1.779–5.108; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that duration of HD and transferrin are independent predictors of the CD4CD69 T cell (OR, 95% CI: 1.187, 1.062–1.327; P = 0.003 and OR, 95% CI: 2.364, 1.004–5.564; P = 0.049, respectively).ConclusionCD4CD69 T cell and CD3CD69 T cell percentages were increased in HD patients despite lymphopenia. Reducing the concentration of transferrin and good nutrition may decrease CD4 T cell activation and, consequently, complications in HD patients.