The phenotype of NK-cells in the dynamics of the post-operative period in patients with peritonitis in depending on the outcome of the disease

Abstract

Our study was aimed at investigating dynamic phenotype pattern of peripheral blood NK cells in patients with widespread purulent peritonitis (WPP) during postoperative period depending on disease outcome. A total of 48 patients aged 30–63 with acute surgical diseases and abdominal injuries complicated by WPP were examined. Blood sampling was performed before surgery (preoperative period) as well as on day 7, 14 and 21 during postoperative period. 40 apparently healthy age-matched subjects were included in control group. Peripheral blood NK cell phenotyping was performed by using flow cytometry with directly immunofluorescently tagged antibodies. Mean fluorescence intensity was measured to estimate expression levels of NK cell surface receptors was measured. It was found that in patients with a favorable WPP outcome during preoperative period the percentage of mature NK cells was decreased that was restored by the end of the postoperative period (21 days post-surgery) due to elevated mature, cytotoxic and cytokine-producing NK cell subsets. In addition, percentage of CD11b-positive NK cell subsets was increased upon favorable outcome by the end of postoperative period as well as frequency of CD57-positive NK cells relative to the preoperative period. However, frequency of mature NK cells with unfavorable WPP outcome vs. control vs. favorable outcome was decreased during preoperative and entire postoperative period. Moreover, amount of cytotoxic NK cells was elevated during examination period upon unfavorable WPP outcome. Further, percentage of mature CD11b-positive NK cells in this patient cohort was decreased during preoperative period and post-surgery. Percentage of CD57-positive NK cells was decreased during entire postoperative period in patients with unfavorable vs. favorable outcome vs. control group. At the same time, patients with unfavorable outcome of this infectious-inflammatory disease were shown to display upregulated expression of CD28 and CD57 markers on NK cells. such features identified in phenotype of peripheral blood NK cells in patients with unfavorable WPP outcome reflect abnormal mechanisms in NK cell maturation and migration, which, in turn, determines disturbance in events regulating acute inflammatory reaction in WPP.