Khalid I Elsayh1, Khaled Saad2, Helal F Hetta3, Mervat A M Youssef1, Mostafa M Embaby1, Ismail L Mohamed1, Safwat M Abdel-Aziz1, Zeinab Albadry M Zahran4, Amira Elhoufey5,6, Aliaa M A Ghandour3, Asmaa M Zahran7. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. khaled.ali@med.au.edu.eg. 3. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. 4. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. 5. Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. 6. Department of Community Health Nursing, Alddrab University College, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. 7. Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hydroxyurea (HU) has beneficial effects in the management of sickle cell anemia (SCA), but there is a paucity of data on the effect of HU on immune cells in SCA. Herein we aimed to evaluate the effect of HU on immune profiles of Egyptian children with SCA. METHODS: This was a controlled prospective cohort study conducted in 30 children with SCA and 30 healthy age-matched controls. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate lymphocyte profiles, including CD8+ T, CD19+ B, CD3+, CD4+, natural killer (NK), NK T, T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, T cytotoxic (Tc1), and Tc2 cells, prior to and after 1 year of treatment with HU. RESULTS: HU treatment led to significant increases in hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell, and hematocrit counts and a significant decrease in the percentage of sickle Hb, with subsequent improvement in SCA complications. Compared with baseline values, CD3+, CD4+, Th1, and CD8+ T cells were significantly increased, while NK, Th2, and Tc2 cells were significantly decreased, with a resulting increase in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios. CONCLUSIONS: HU has the beneficial effect of restoring the abnormally elevated immune parameters in children with SCA. IMPACT: Hydroxyurea treatment restores the abnormal immune parameters in children with sickle cell anemia. HU treatment led to significantly increased CD3+, CD4+, Th1, and CD8+ T cells, while NK, Th2, and Tc2 cells were significantly decreased, with a resulting increase in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios. Our study showed the impact of HU therapy on immune parameters in children with SCA.
BACKGROUND: Hydroxyurea (HU) has beneficial effects in the management of sickle cell anemia (SCA), but there is a paucity of data on the effect of HU on immune cells in SCA. Herein we aimed to evaluate the effect of HU on immune profiles of Egyptian children with SCA. METHODS: This was a controlled prospective cohort study conducted in 30 children with SCA and 30 healthy age-matched controls. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate lymphocyte profiles, including CD8+ T, CD19+ B, CD3+, CD4+, natural killer (NK), NK T, T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, T cytotoxic (Tc1), and Tc2 cells, prior to and after 1 year of treatment with HU. RESULTS: HU treatment led to significant increases in hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell, and hematocrit counts and a significant decrease in the percentage of sickle Hb, with subsequent improvement in SCA complications. Compared with baseline values, CD3+, CD4+, Th1, and CD8+ T cells were significantly increased, while NK, Th2, and Tc2 cells were significantly decreased, with a resulting increase in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios. CONCLUSIONS: HU has the beneficial effect of restoring the abnormally elevated immune parameters in children with SCA. IMPACT: Hydroxyurea treatment restores the abnormal immune parameters in children with sickle cell anemia. HU treatment led to significantly increased CD3+, CD4+, Th1, and CD8+ T cells, while NK, Th2, and Tc2 cells were significantly decreased, with a resulting increase in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratios. Our study showed the impact of HU therapy on immune parameters in children with SCA.
Authors: Asmaa M Zahran; Khalid I Elsayh; Khaled Saad; Mostafa M Embaby; Mervat A M Youssef; Yasser F Abdel-Raheem; Shaban M Sror; Shereen M Galal; Helal F Hetta; Mohamed Diab Aboul-Khair; Mohamd A Alblihed; Amira Elhoufey Journal: Clin Appl Thromb Hemost Date: 2019 Jan-Dec Impact factor: 2.389