Plasma Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase and Arginase Type I May Contribute to Decreased Blood T-Cell Count in Hemodialysis Patients

Figures & data

Table 1. Patients’ clinical characteristics.

Number of patients	32
Gender
Males	18
Females	14
Age (years)	61.13 ± 12.74
Cause of ESRD
Primary glomerulonephritis	9
Diabetes mellitus	7
Hypertension	3
Obstructive nephropathy	2
ADPKD	2
Alport’s syndrome	1
Analgesic nephropathy	1
Clolesterol embolism	1
Unknown	6
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	11.24 ± 1.07
Parathyroid hormone (pg/mL)	250.05 ± 211.90
Calcium (mg/dL)	9.60 ± 0.65
Phosphorus (mg/dL)	5.87 ± 1.74
C-reactive protein (mg/L)	9.66 ± 14.71
Albumin (g/dL)	3.96 ± 0.34
Normalized protein catabolic rate (g/kg/d)	1.22 ± 0.17
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	24.40 ± 5.34
Urea reduction ratio (%)	64.98 ± 7.22

Note: ADPKD, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ESRD, end-stage renal disease.

Figure 1. Plasma IDO concentration in HD patients and healthy volunteers.

Note: Plasma IDO concentration was significantly higher in HD patients than in healthy volunteers (44.30 ± 31.83 ng/mL vs. 21.28 ± 26.21 ng/mL, p = 0.009, 95% CI of difference from 5.96 to 40.10 ng/mL).

Figure 2. Plasma ARG concentration in HD patients and healthy volunteers.

Note: There was a trend for higher plasma ARG concentration in HD patients (13.43 ± 11.91 ng/mL) than in healthy volunteers (9.56 ± 4.03 ng/mL), which however did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.099, 95% CI of difference from −0.75 to 8.49 ng/mL).

Figure 3. Absolute blood T-cell number in HD patients and healthy volunteers.

Note: Absolute T-cell count was significantly lower in HD patients than in healthy volunteers (1176.99 ± 567.71 cells/mm³ vs. 1519.85 ± 594.96 cells/mm³, p = 0.040, 95% CI of difference from −669.60 to −16.12 cells/mm³).

Figure 4. Relation between absolute blood T-cell number and plasma IDO in HD patients.

Note: Absolute blood T-cell number was inversely related to plasma IDO concentration in HD patients (r = −0.490, p = 0.004).

Figure 5. Relation between absolute blood T-cell number and plasma ARG in HD patients.

Note: Absolute blood T-cell count was inversely related to plasma ARG concentration in HD patients (r = −0.387, p = 0.029).