Hemodialysis patients exhibit T-cell activation accompanied by an enhanced frequency of IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T cells
Abstract
T-cell immune dysregulation is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but whether hemodialysis (HD) differentially affects T-cell immune activity remains unclear. We evaluated the peripheral T-cell immune characteristics of 96 patients with ESRD and 86 healthy controls to explore the effects of HD on T-cell immune function. T-cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry for phenotype, number, and function (represented by interferon-gamma [IFN-γ] secretion capacity). Compared with healthy controls, patients with ESRD showed significant reductions in the absolute number of CD8+ T-naïve (TN)/T effector memory (TEM)/T effector memory regulatory (TEMRA), CD4+ T-cell memory (TCM), CD4+CD38+, CD8+/CD4+HLA-DR+, and CD8+/CD4+CD28+ cells, especially in the proportion and quantity of CD4+ TN cells. Compared with nHD patients, HD patients showed significantly different peripheral T-cell immune characteristics. Phenotypically, the changes in CD4+ T-cell subsets were more significant than those observed for CD8+ T cells, with activated T cells (CD4+CD38+, CD4+HLA-DR+, and CD8+CD38+ T cells) increased and functional T cells (CD4+CD28+ T cells) decreased in proportion and quantity. Functionally, the frequency of IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in HD patients than in nHD patients, indicating the enhanced functional activation of T cells under HD. In summary, maintenance HD is associated with dysregulation of T-cell homeostasis in patients with ESRD, which is characterized by dual features of enhanced T-cell phenotype activation and functional activation (increased IFN-γ secretion). By evaluating the immune status on the basis of the secretion function of IFN-γ, our study provides valuable insights into immune imbalance in patients with ESRD.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026hemodialysis,
title = {{Hemodialysis patients exhibit T-cell activation accompanied by an enhanced frequency of IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T cells}},
author = {Xuya Chen and Danxia Jin and Haoyang Guo and Shuangshan Bu and Yan Lu and Longyi Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1966583},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1966583},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Hemodialysis patients exhibit T-cell activation accompanied by an enhanced frequency of IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T cells
AU - Xuya Chen
AU - Danxia Jin
AU - Haoyang Guo
AU - Shuangshan Bu
AU - Yan Lu
AU - Longyi Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1966583
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1966583
AB - T-cell immune dysregulation is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but whether hemodialysis (HD) differentially affects T-cell immune activity remains unclear. We evaluated the peripheral T-cell immune characteristics of 96 patients with ESRD and 86 healthy controls to explore the effects of HD on T-cell immune function. T-cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry for phenotype, number, and function (represented by interferon-gamma [IFN-γ] secretion capacity). Compared with healthy controls, patients with ESRD showed significant reductions in the absolute number of CD8+ T-naïve (TN)/T effector memory (TEM)/T effector memory regulatory (TEMRA), CD4+ T-cell memory (TCM), CD4+CD38+, CD8+/CD4+HLA-DR+, and CD8+/CD4+CD28+ cells, especially in the proportion and quantity of CD4+ TN cells. Compared with nHD patients, HD patients showed significantly different peripheral T-cell immune characteristics. Phenotypically, the changes in CD4+ T-cell subsets were more significant than those observed for CD8+ T cells, with activated T cells (CD4+CD38+, CD4+HLA-DR+, and CD8+CD38+ T cells) increased and functional T cells (CD4+CD28+ T cells) decreased in proportion and quantity. Functionally, the frequency of IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in HD patients than in nHD patients, indicating the enhanced functional activation of T cells under HD. In summary, maintenance HD is associated with dysregulation of T-cell homeostasis in patients with ESRD, which is characterized by dual features of enhanced T-cell phenotype activation and functional activation (increased IFN-γ secretion). By evaluating the immune status on the basis of the secretion function of IFN-γ, our study provides valuable insights into immune imbalance in patients with ESRD.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -