In vitro natural killer and killer cell functions in uremia.

In uremia, mitogen responses of lymphocytes are decreased as is their resistance to the immunosuppressive effect of steroids. We examined the functions of natural killer (NK) and killer (K) cells from uremic patients and their sensitivity to in vitro immunosuppression by methylprednisolone. NK- and K-cell activity was as high as that of control subjects, and remained so at different titrations of effector cells. The functions of NK and K cells from uremic patients tended to be more resistant to methylprednisolone than those of control NK and K cells. Thus, while uremia impairs T-cell functions and T-cell sensitivity to steroids in vitro, the cytotoxic effector cell functions which are not dependent on cell proliferation remain unaffected.