Effects of early application of thymosin peptide alpha 1 on T lymphocyte subsets after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the effects of early application of thymosin peptide alpha 1 on lymphocyte subsets after operation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Forty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were randomly divided into control and treatment groups for this study. Thymosin α1 at dose of 1.6 mg was injected subcutaneously on day 1, 3, and 5 after operation in treatment group. The percentages of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in both groups were counted before operation and on day 1, 4, and 7 after hepatectomy. RESULTS: CD4+ cell population and CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased, but CD8+ increased after operation in control group (P<0 05). In thymosin peptide alpha 1 treatment group, there was no statistical difference in the percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ before and after operation. In addition, thymosin α1 significantly increased CD4+ cell population and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0 05). CONCLUSION: Operation suppresses the immune function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Thymosin α1 increases CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets in patients after operation.