The CD57 test is a test used in the diagnosis of Lyme disease, which measures the number of cells of the immune system with the CD57 marker. How does the CD57 test work? What are the standards for the CD57 test? How to interpret the test results?

The CD57test measures the number of immune cells with the CD57 marker. A decline in their numbers may indicate a chronic form of Lyme disease.

Although the use of this test in the diagnosis of Lyme disease remains controversial and requires clinical confirmation, doctors from the ILADS group use the CD57 test to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.

Contents:

  1. CD57 test - application
  2. CD57 test - what is it?
  3. CD57 test - standard. Interpreting the results
  4. CD57 test - restrictions

CD57 test - application

In general, the determination of individual populations of immune cells is widely used in various fields of medicine. Specifically, the CD57 test is now associated primarily with the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

In case of diagnostic difficulties, i.e. the patient has symptoms of Lyme disease and negative serological test results,CD57 testmay be helpful in diagnosing the disease.

Studies have shown that people with chronic Borrelia infection have a reduced CD57 + CD3- cell count.It is estimated that a reduction in CD57 + CD3- cell count occurs in chronic infections for more than one year and normal cell counts during acute infection.

This fact is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. This diagnostic approach is practiced by doctors from the ILADS group, the International Society for Lyme Disease and Related Diseases.

  • Lyme disease treatment - IDSA and ILADS methods

In addition, the CD57 test can be used to differentiate Borrelia infection from other diseases with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or tick-borne diseases other than Lyme disease. In these diseases, the CD57 + CD3- cell count remains normal.

CD57 test - what is it?

The CD57 test is the test thatis based on an assessment of the number of cells in the blood with the presence of the CD57 marker. CD (cluster of differentiation) markers are a large group of proteins that are found on the surface of cells, including the immune system, and allow for their identification in the laboratory (immunophenotyping).Each population of immune cells has its own specific set of CD markers.

CD57 marker is characteristic for NK cells (Natural Killers) and T lymphocytes. However, the former are negative for another CD3 marker. Therefore, in order to increase the specificity of the studied population of cells, the CD57 test to assess the presence of CD57 + / CD3 - cells is often used.

The test is performed from blood taken from the patient's vein. The collected blood is then mixed with fluorescently labeled antibodies specific for the markers CD57 and CD3. The next step is to measure the fluorescence emitted by the antibodies with a flow cytometer that counts the exact number of cells.

CD57 test - standard. Interpreting the results

The number of CD57 + CD3- cells in a he althy person should be in the range of 60 to 360 cells per microlitre.The number of less than 60 cells per microliter means a reduced number in the blood and in people with symptoms of Lyme disease may indicate chronic Borrelia infection.

In patients with Lyme disease, the number of CD57 + CD3- cells should return to normal after effective antibiotic therapy.

Worth knowing

CD57 test - limitations

It should be borne in mind that the use of the CD57 test in the diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on one study published by Stricker et al.

Therefore, despite the fact that the CD57 test has found a group of supporters, most specialists emphasize that it still requires validation (i.e. confirmation of its credibility) in the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Especially that a negative CD57 test result (correct CD57 + CD3- cell count) does not exclude Borrelia infection.

Additionally, the test should not be performed on children, as the reference values ​​for the test have been established only for adults.

References

  1. Stricker R.B. and Winger E.E. Decreased CD57 lymphocyte subset in patients with chronic Lyme disease. Immunol Lett. 2001 Feb 1; 76 (1): 43-8.
  2. Carolyn M. Nielsen et al. Functional Significance of CD57 Expression on Human NK Cells and Relevance to Disease. Front Immunol. 2013; 4: 422.
  3. Heymann W.R and Ellis D.L Borrelia burgdorferi Infections in the United States. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012 Aug; 5 (8): 18-28.
About the authorKarolina Karabin, MD, PhD, molecular biologist, laboratory diagnostician, Cambridge Diagnostics Polska A biologist by profession, specializing in microbiology, and a laboratory diagnostician with over 10 years of experience in laboratory work. A graduate of the College of Molecular Medicine and a member of the Polish Society of Human Genetics. Head of research grants at the Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics at the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases of the Medical University of Warsaw. She defended the title of doctor of medical sciences in the field of medical biology at the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw. Author of many scientific and popular science works in the field of laboratory diagnostics, molecular biology and nutrition. On a daily basis, as a specialist in the field of laboratory diagnostics, he runs the content department at Cambridge Diagnostics Polska and cooperates with a team of nutritionists at the CD Dietary Clinic. He shares his practical knowledge on diagnostics and diet therapy of diseases with specialists at conferences, training sessions, and in magazines and websites. She is particularly interested in the influence of modern lifestyle on molecular processes in the body.

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Research