Clinical relevance of NKT cells and soluble MIC-A in Hodgkin lymphoma

Previous studies demonstrated that the majority of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients achieve response after treatment, while 5% become refractory. Studies analyzing the role of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood are limited. This investigation sought to evaluate peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and soluble MHC class I chain-related proteins A and B (sMIC-A/B) and their correlation with survival in patients with newly diagnosed HL. The study recruited 36 patients and 72 healthy donors. HL patients showed a decrease in CD4, B, monocytes, NK, and NKT cells; and an increase in γ-δ T cells and soluble MIC-A serum levels. Higher values of s-MIC-A  >100 ng/mL and NKT cells >40 µL correlated with poor overall survival (OS). In conclusion, in HL peripheral blood CD4 T and B cells, monocytes, NK, and NKT cells were decreased, while s-MIC-A and γ-δ T cells increased. Higher values of s-MIC-A and NKT cells correlated with poor survival.