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

Figures & data

Figure 1 Representative dot plots showing gating of lymphocytes using forward scatter/ side scatter characteristics (FSC/SSC), gating of (CD3-) population, and different natural killer (NK) cell subsets. Dot plots showing: (A) a case of DVT, and (B) a sample of healthy control group.

Table 1 Results of Different Laboratory Parameters of the Study Participants

Parameters	Group I (n=50) (Mean ± SD)	Group II (n=50) (Mean ± SD)	p-value
Total leucocytic count (X 109 / L)	7.7±3.3	7.3±1.9	0.5
Absolute neutrophil count (X109 / L)	4.3±2.7	3.9±1.4	0.3
Absolute lymphocyte count (X 109 / L)	2.5±0.9	2.8±0.9	0.1
Absolute monocyte count (X109 / L)	0.7±0.3	0.6±0.2	<0.001*
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	12.2±2.6	13.6±1.3	0.001*
Platelet count (X109 / L)	257.8±89.4	254±58.3	0.8
Prothrombin time (PT) (seconds)	14.2±2.9	12.9±0.4	0.004*
International normalization ratio (INR)	1.3±0.4	1±0.02	0.000*
**Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (seconds)	57.5(42.3)	33(6.3)	0.000*
**D-dimer (ng/L)	1.5(3.25)	0.3(0.1)	0.000*
**Citrullinated histone (H3) (ng/mL)	45.2(42.5)	15(5.3)	0.000*

Note: *p-value <0.05, **Data is expressed as median (IQR).

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; PT, prothrombin time; INR, international normalization ratio; APTT, activated partial thromboplastin time.

Table 2 Proportion of Natural Killer (NK) Cells and NK Cell Subsets of the Study Participants

Parameters	Group I (n=50) (Mean ± SD)	Group II (n=50) (Mean ± SD)	p-value
Proportion of natural-killer (NK) cells of total lymphocytes (%)	10.9±4.5	11.3±3.6	0.7
Proportion of NK cell subgroups (%)
Proportion of (CD16+/CD56 dim) NK cells	53.9±14.9	70.8±11.1	<0.001*
Proportion of (CD16+/CD56-) NK cells	38.1±17.4	24.4±9.8	<0.001*
**Proportion of (CD56 bright) NK cells	0.95(2.4)	1.5(1.3)	0.5

Note: *p-value <0.05, **Data is expressed as median (IQR).

Abbreviations: NK, natural killer, SD, standard deviation.

Table 3 Comparison Between the Two Subgroups and the Control Group Regarding the Proportion of Natural Killer (NK) Cells and the Proportion of Their Subsets

Parameters	Group Ia (n=25) (Mean ± SD)		Group Ib (n=25) (Mean ± SD)	Group II (n=50) (Mean ± SD)	p-value
Proportion of natural-killer (NK) cells of total lymphocytes (%)	11.1±5		10.9±4.2	11.3±3.6	0.9
Proportion of NK cell subgroups (%)
Proportion of (CD16+/CD56 dim) NK cells	55.4±17.5		52.3±11.8	70.8±11.1	0.000*
	P1=0.000*		P2=0.000*	P3=0.4
Proportion of (CD16+/CD56-) NK cells	34.2±20.5		41.9±12.8	24.4±9.8	0.000*
	P1=0.005*		P2=0.000*	P3=0.05
**Proportion of (CD56 bright) NK cells	2.3(3.4)		0.6(0.7)	1.4(1.3)	0.000*
	P1=0.08		P2=0.000*	P3=0.001*

Notes: P1: differences between Group Ia (acute DVT) and Group II. P2: differences between Group Ib (chronic DVT) and Group II. P3: differences between Group Ia and Group Ib. *p-value <0.05, **Data is expressed as median (IQR).

Abbreviations: NK, natural killer, SD, standard deviation.

Table 4 Correlation Between Citrullinated Histones (H3) and the Natural Killer (NK) Cell Proportion of the Total Lymphocytes and NK Cell Subgroup Proportion

Variables	Proportion of Natural-Killer (NK) Cells of Total Lymphocytes		Proportion of (CD16+/CD56-) NK Cells		Proportion of (CD16+/CD56 dim) NK Cells		Proportion of (CD56 bright) NK Cells
	R	p -value	R	p -value	r	p -value	r	p -value
Citrullinated histone (H3) (ng/mL)	−0.2	0.1	−0.01	0.9	−0.05	0.7	0.3	0.02*

Notes: P >0.05 non-significant, *P<0.05 significant.

Abbreviation: NK, natural killer.

Figure 2 The output data of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to discriminate the power of: (A) citrullinated histone (H3), (B) proportion of (CD16+/CD56 dim) natural killer (NK) cell subset, (C) proportion of (CD16+/CD56-) NK cell subset, to distinguish between cases and controls.