| Abstract [eng] |
Changes in the Number of Natural Killers T Cells in the Blood of Patients Who Underwent Heart Transplantation The main aim of this research is to evaluate the percentage change of Natural Killer (NK) and Natural Killer T (NKT) cells after heart transplantation. To reach this goal four objectives were raised: • To apply flow cytometry method in order to determine the number of NK (CD3-CD16+/CD56+) cells in peripheral blood after the heart transplantation; • To apply flow cytometry method in order to determine the number of NKT (CD3+CD16+/56+) cells in peripheral blood after the heart transplantation; • To compare its change with biopsy results applying the method of elimination; • To evaluate how informative these indicators are when warning patients of the rejection of transplant organ. In order to fulfill the aim and objectives 59 patients who had had heart transplantation have been examined. 150 tests have been done to selected patients, after that they have been classified into 4 groups according to biopsy results. It was identified that in those 4 groups of patients with different levels of transplant rejection: 1 group – slight rejection; 2 group – medium rejection; 3 group – high rejection; 0 group – no effect, the number of NK cells ranged from 10,15% to 12,82%, NKT cells from 6,50% to 9,05%. Insignificant static variation of NK cells was estimated: 0 group with no rejection had the highest number of NK cells (12,82%), groups 1 and 2 with slight and medium rejection had fractionally decreasing number of NK (11.44% and 10,15%), finally group 3 with the highest level of rejection had increase in the number of NK (12,70%). Because of a high breakdown (standard deflection reached 13,73) it would be incorrect to assume that the change of the number of NK cells is a valuable indicator in order to identify the success of transplantation. The number of NKT cells, on the contrary, was the lowest in group 0 with no rejection (6,50%), in groups 1 and 2 with slight and medium rejection it increased insignificantly (8,70% and 9,05%), and finally in group 3 with the highest rejection it decreased (7,07%). It is a must to note that peripheral blood have been used during this scientific research, however according to literature it is known that the number of NK and NKT cells depends not only on the gender, age or other significant factors, but also it may vary due to individual features of the organism. Moreover, NKT cell are able to infiltrate into allograft tissue, that is why we can assume that when infiltrated these cells directly participate in rejection reaction. For this reason, it would be appropriate to examine the qualitative and quantitative aspects of biopsy’s substance immune cells as well. It might help to more accurately determine the importance of NK and NKT cells in the process of immune response. After evaluation of the results (applying one-way ANOVA method) it was found out that: the average level of NK and NKT cells had not reached the statistical indicator (p = 0.05). Therefore the conclusion must be drawn that there is no statically reliable dependency between NK and NKT cells and the success of transplantation. |
