Effects of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation on the imbalance of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells following thoracotomy of patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract. An imbalance in the various T lymphocytes, including T-helper (Th) 1 , Th 2 and Th 17 cells, and regulatory T (T reg ) cells, has been associated with immune dysfunction, and may occur following thoracotomy of patients with lung cancer. The use of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) has previously been demonstrated to exert immunoregulatory effects; therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether TAES was able to attenuate postoperative immune suppression in patients with lung cancer. Thoracic surgical patients with lung cancer (n=27) underwent TAES (frequency, 2/100 Hz; intensity, 4-12 mA) at the bilateral large intestine 4, pericardium 6, small intestine 3 and San Jiao 6 acupuncture points for 30 min, prior to incision, and at 20, 44, 68, 92 and 116 h following thoracotomy. The number of Th 1 , Th 2 , Th 17 and T reg cells, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of related cytokines were measured by flow cytometry, ELISA and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The balance of Th 1 , Th 2 , Th 17 and T reg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer was disrupted following thoracotomy. TAES administration increased the percentage of Th 1 and Th 17 cells, the protein expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ, the mRNA expression levels of T-bet and RAR-related orphan receptor-γt, and decreased the percentage of Th 2 cells, IL-10 protein expression levels, and GATA binding protein 3 mRNA expression levels. The results of the present study demonstrated that TAES was able to partially attenuate the postoperative immune depression of patients with lung cancer, by regulating the balance of Th 1 , Th 2 , Th 17 and T reg cells, and the expression levels of related cytokines and transcription factors; therefore, TAES may be considered to be a promising strategy for treating postoperative immune dysfunction in patients with lung cancer.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Improves Immunological Function During the Perioperative Period in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgical Lobectomy

“…Studies demonstrated that acupuncture promoted the release of cytokines activated by NK cells and enhanced nonspecific antitumor immunity. 10 Additionally, a current study by Wu et al suggested that TAES was able to partially attenuate the postoperative immune depression of patients with lung cancer by regulating the balance of T lymphocytes and the expression levels of related cytokines and transcription factors, 15 but they did not discuss the impact of TEAS on NK cells and related immunologic factors, such as TNF-α and IL-6. Actually, NK cells play an all-star role in protecting hosts from carcinogenesis and metastases.…”

“… 14 Therefore, NK cells, TNF-α, and IL-6 were selected as the immunological factors of interest. The TEAS has been proven to provide perioperative immune system protection by regulating the balance of T lymphocytes and the expression levels of related cytokines and transcription factors, 15 and the procedure may be a promising strategy for treating postoperative immunological dysfunction in patients with NSCLC. However, relevant studies regarding these effects are relatively lacking.…”

Overexpression of programmed cell death-1 on circulatory Th1 and Th2 cells in cardiac arrest patients in the early period after the return of spontaneous circulation

“…After the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), CA patients with systemic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) can manifest 'sepsis-like' syndromes and immune disorders which can lead to infections (3)(4)(5). CD4 + T lymphocytes are effector cells in the adaptive immune system of humans and play important roles in ghting infections and the pathogenesis of IRI (6,7). Upon activation of the T cell receptor (TCR), naïve CD4 + T lymphocytes differentiate into T-helper 1 (Th1), and Th2 subsets (8)(9)(10).…”

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Proinflammatory Cytokines: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In an attempt to understand the mechanisms of pain and the possible effectiveness of TENS in enabling increasingly effective treatments, recent studies have noted that in addition to analgesia, TENS may have an effect on the circulatory [ 7 , 8 ], healing [ 9 , 10 ], and inflammatory systems [ 6 , 11 ].…”