Detection of Natural Killer and Natural Killer T Cells Responses among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infections in Sana'a City-Yemen.

Natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells contribute to the immune defense against hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) develops when there is a dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. This case-control study was conducted to evaluate the immunological and clinical profiles of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Sana'a, Yemen. The work focused on measuring T cell (CD3+), NK cell (CD56+), and NKT like cells (CD3 + CD56+) populations, along with examining viral load, hematological and biochemical indicators, and exploring how these factors relate to patients' demographic and clinical characteristics. A total of 100 subjects was established for this investigation, with an equal distribution of 50 CHC and 50 matched healthy controls (HC). The evaluation of peripheral blood samples encompassed multiple domains: serology (anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA viral load), biochemical liver function tests (measuring ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT levels), and a full hematological workup (CBC). Additionally, flow cytometric analysis was employed to determine the relative percentages of T, NK and NKT like cells in the CHC patient group and HC. The mean age of CHC patients was 48.0 ± 16.79 years, and most of them were > 50 years. There were 18 men (36.0%) and 32 women (64.0%). There was a significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT in CHC patients compared to those in HC (P < 0.05), This finding showed a significant decrease in the proportions of T and NKT like cells in CHC patients when compared to HC (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between the percentage of T and NKT like cells with total white blood cell (WBC) counts in patients with CHC (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrated a reduction in the percentage of T, and NKT like cells among CHC patients in the study area. Thus, fewer immune cell responses may fail to clear HCV infections and may contribute to CHC development.