STUDY & DETERMINATION OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD OF HEALTHY POPULATION OF IRAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES WITHIN DIFFERENT AGE GROUP(18-60 YEARS)

Natural killer(NK) cells are defined as effector cells that have the capacity of spontaneous cytotoxicity toward various target cells and are not major histocompatibility complex(MHC) restricted. NK cells are the first line of immune system defence and serve in surveillance of certain tumor and virus-infected cells. The aim of this study was to determine CD16++CD56+ marker(NK cells) in healthy Iranian population. Peripheral blood samples of 500 male and female subjects, from different age group(18-60 years), were obtained. Flowcytometry technique with dual color monoclonal antibodies (CD16++CD56+) against NK cells was used to analyse the samples. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS software. The mean of CD16+CD56+ was found to be 15.93±7.02 for male and 13.30±5.89 for female population(P<0.05). The mean ranges of NK cells in different age group in the combined population were significantly less in the subjects aged 31-40 years as compared with subjects aged 50-60 years(P<0.001). Study and determination of NK cells in the peripheral blood indicates that sex, age and race should be a consideration in the evaluation of the immune system. Therefore, the results of the present study can be used in Iran laboratories and research centers to evaluate infectious diseases, tumors and other diseases.