Assessment of natural killer cell subpopulations in pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major

Hyperferritinemia in pediatric β-thalassemia major is linked to a dysregulated NK cell profile, marked by suppression of functional CD56bright and CD56dim subsets and expansion of the atypical CD56neg subset. These alterations may compromise innate immunity and contribute to increased infection risk. Our findings highlight the immunomodulatory impact of iron overload and underscore the clinical importance of monitoring NK cell dynamics in thalassemia management.