Measurement of T-lymphocyte subsets in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid on smokers and patients with lung cancer
Shi, Y.; Chen, W.
Hua Xi Yi Ke da Xue Xue Bao 23(2): 213-216
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0257-7712 PMID: 1452162 Document Number: 393014
The measurements of T-lymphocyte subsets (as expressed by, CD3 CD4 and CD8) in the peripheral blood and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on 30 cases of lung cancer, 26 cases of smoker and 25 cases of nonsmoker have been done. The results showed that there existed no differences in the peripheral blood of the above said subsets of lymphocyte. In BALF the percentage of CD3 in all the lymphocytes did not show any significant difference among the three tested groups, either (P > 0.05). But the percentage of CD4 and the ratio of CD4/CD8 manifested the following peculiarity: patients with lung cancers < smokers < nonsmokers (P < 0.01). On the contrary, the percentage of CD8 showed just the opposite: patients with lung cancer > smokers nonsmokers (P < 0.01). It was suggested that the cellular immunity as shown in the peripheral blood did not correspond with the findings in the BALF. The cellular immunity of the lungs was decreased both in patients with lung cancer and smokers, but more severely in the group of lung cancer patients. Smokers who have had changes of above said subsets of lymphocytes in the lungs may develop lung cancer. As the lung cancer advances, it may suppress body immunity and in turn enhance the cancer growth. Both the cause and the effect are interrelated. Therefore, the provocative agents for cellular immunity may act as one of the adjunctive therapies for patients with lung cancer. Giving up smoking should play an important role in recovering or promoting the immunity of the lungs and decreasing the incidence as well as improving the prognosis in patients with lung cancer.