Increased aluminium concentrations in B-lymphocytes of patients on hemodialysis

Aluminum toxicity is a problem in dialysis patients and has been suggested as mechanism in disturbed lymphocyte function in renal insufficiency. Howev er, intracellular aluminum concentrations in B- and T-lymphocytes have not been determined in detail. Therefore, we studied total intracellular lympho cytic aluminum content in B- and T-cells in 10 patients on regular hemodial ysis (duration 3,1 +/- 1,1 years) and 11 healthy control subjects. Addition ally, B- and T-lymphocytic aluminum concentrations were determined after is olating of T-cells using resetting procedures with neuramidase-treated shee p red blood cells. Aluminum concentrations were measured by atomic absorpti on spectroscopy. Since lymphocytic volume cannot easily be determined, we r eferred aluminum content to the amount of lymphocytic protein content measu red by the Bradford method. Total aluminum content was significantly increa sed in dialysis patients compared to control subjects (5.2 +/- 1.7 I-IS Al/ g (MW +/- SD) vs. 3.6 1 1.2 mu g Al/g lymphocytic protein, p < 0.05). T-cel l aluminum content was not significantly different between groups (2.2 +/- 1.4 versus 2.2 +/- 0.9 mu g Al/g). In contrast, aluminum concentrations in B-cells were significantly increased in dialysis patients (2.9 +/- 0.7 vers us 1.44 +/- 0.5 mu g Al/g lymphocytic proteins, p < 0.05)Our results indica te that beside the well-known altertions in plasma aluminum concentrations intracellular B-cell aluminum content is increased in patients on regular d ialysis patients, This might contribute to impaired immune response in pati ents with renal insufficiency.