Vascular Health and Risk Management (Nov 2023)

The Diagnostic Utility of Natural Killer Cell Subsets in Deep Vein Thrombosis

  • Alhabibi AM,
  • Wahab MA,
  • Sakr AK,
  • Abd El-Hamid SM,
  • Zakaria MY,
  • Althoqapy AA,
  • El Sayed HME,
  • Kasim SA,
  • Ibrahim HF,
  • Saleh OI,
  • Ahmed HA,
  • Sayed AH,
  • Lotfy M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 19
pp. 779 – 787

Abstract

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Alshaymaa M Alhabibi,1 Maisa A Wahab,2 Ahmed Khairy Sakr,2 Samar M Abd El-Hamid,1 Mohamed Yahia Zakaria,3 Azza Ali Althoqapy,4 Hanaa Mohammed Eid El Sayed,5 Sammar Ahmed Kasim,5 Hanan F Ibrahim,4 Ola I Saleh,6 Howida A Ahmed,6 Alaa H Sayed,7 Mahmoud Lotfy8 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Department of Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Vascular and EndoVascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine for Boys, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 5Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 6Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 7Hormones Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 8Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Minufiya, EgyptCorrespondence: Alshaymaa M Alhabibi, Tel +201002894075, Email [email protected]: Natural killer (NK) cells are important components of adaptive and innate immune responses. NK cell subsets have different functions and may play a role in vascular disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the proportions of NK cells and their subsets to determine whether they can be used as markers of venous thrombosis and to identify whether there was a link between NK cell proportion and citrullinated histone (H3) levels.Patients and Methods: This study included 100 participants divided into Group I (n=50, patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT)) and Group II (n=50, age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Group I was further categorized into Group Ia (n=25, patients with acute DVT) and Group Ib (n=25, patients with chronic DVT). The proportions of NK cells and their subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry using CD3/CD16/CD56. The levels of citrullinated histones (H3) were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Compared to the control group, DVT patients had a significantly lower proportion of (CD56 dim/CD16+) NK cells, a significantly higher proportion of (CD56-/CD16+) NK cells and a high level of citrullinated histone (H3).Conclusion: NK cell subsets and citrullinated histone (H3) could be used as markers for DVT and as targets for therapeutic drugs to inhibit the formation or progression of thrombosis.Keywords: natural killer cell, natural killer cell subsets, citrullinated histone, deep venous thrombosis

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