Identification of T helper cell subsets in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Background/Aim: End-stage renal failure induces a clinical state of immunod eficiency with a higher incidence of infections and a higher mortality due to infectious complications as compared with the normal population, A cruci al element in this immune response is the development of a network of cytok ines. CN-positive T helper (Th) cells differentiate into either Th1 or Th2 cells in response to various stimuli. It is important to examine whether th e impaired immune responses in patients with end-stage renal disease are du e to an enhanced Th1 response or a reduced number of Th2 cells. Method: Usi ng a newly developed immunofluorescence staining of intracellular cytokines for flow cytometric analysis, we studied Th subsets in 24 patients on cont inuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Results: The proportions of T h1 cells did not differ between CAPD patients (18.7 1.8%) and controls (19. 6 +/- 1.5%). Unlike Th1 cells, a significantly higher proportion of CD4 cel ls in CAPD patients is characterized by a Th2-type cytokine secretion patte rn as compared with healthy controls: 2.9 +/- 0.8% versus 1.7 +/- 0.4%. Con clusion: These data demonstrate that Th cells from CAPD patients manifest a dysregulated differentiation profile characterized by a major increase in the percentage of Th2 cells and by a normal percentage of Th1 cells. Copyri ght (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.