Silicosis patients were found to have significantly reduced levels of key immune T cells (CD3, CD4, and CD8) in their blood compared to healthy individuals. Treatment with thymalfasin (thymosin alpha-1) significantly increased CD4 T cell counts after just one week, demonstrating its potential to help restore immune function in these patients.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the changes in CD3, CD4and CD8expression in cells in peripheral blood of silicosis patients, and observe the immunoregulatory effect of thymalfasin.
METHODS: A total of 80 silicosis patients were enrolled in the study, randomly divided into two groups: treatment group and control group (n=40, each group). In addition, 40 healthy adults, who underwent physical examinations in our hospital, were enrolled into the health examination group. Patients in the control group and treatment group were given anti-infection treatment, according to their conditions. Patients in the treatment group additionally received thymalfasin. Then, the number of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in subjects in all three groups before and after treatment was measured.
RESULTS: (1) Before treatment, CD3, CD4and CD8levels in cells were significantly lower in the treatment group and control group than in the health examination group, and the differences were statistically significant (<0.05). (2) In the treatment group, the number of CD4cells in peripheral blood was significantly higher after one week of treatment, when compared to that before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (<0.05).
CONCLUSION: In silicosis patients, CD3, CD4and CD8cells in peripheral blood are decreased, and thymalfasin can significantly increase CD4cells in peripheral blood of silicosis patients.