thymalfasin and Pulmonary-Disease--Chronic-Obstructive

Thymosin α1 (Tα1) is considered to be a promising immunomodulatory drug and could balance immunity and tolerance in immune tolerance and autoimmunity.. To explore the efficacy of Tα1 plus routine complex treatment in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).. Eighty-four AECOPD patients were enrolled and randomized into an experimental group and a control group. All patients received the routine treatment. Additionally, the experimental group received subcutaneous injections of Tα1 while the control group received placebo. Four weeks later, the curative effect of treatment and immune function of both groups were analyzed.. Partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2), PaCO2, and pulmonary function of the experimental group improved after treatment compared to that recorded prior to treatment and that observed for the control group (p < 0.01, both). The CD4(+) T cell count, serum interferon (IFN)-γ levels, and the ratios of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and IFN-γ/interleukin (IL)-4 increased in both groups (p < 0.01), while the CD8(+) T cell count and levels of IL-4, IL-8, and leukotrienes B4 (LTB4) decreased as expected (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, the above-mentioned indices of the experimental group improved significantly compared to the indices of the control group (p < 0.05 or 0.01).. Tα1 plus routine treatment could improve the immune function of AECOPD patients and inhibit the inflammatory reaction, thus reducing the recurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cytokines; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Respiratory Function Tests; Severity of Illness Index; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Thymalfasin; Thymosin; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the prophylactic effect of thymosin alpha 1 and its mechanism on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Eighty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided into two groups. In the treatment group, 42 patients received thymosin alpha 1 1.6 mg hypodermic injection, quague die alterna, for 10 times. All patients were followed for 6 months, and were assessed the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation at 3 and 6 months. In two groups, before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment, the pulmonary function tests were measured, and the blood samples were collected for the measurement of the blood IgA, IgG, IgM, CD3, CD4 and CD8 levels.. In the treatment group, the number and days of patients with acute exacerbation were significantly lower in comparison with those of the control group. After treatment of thymosin alpha 1, blood CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly increased.. Thymosin alpha 1 has a good protection for the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by incresing body cellular immune activity.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aged; CD3 Complex; CD4 Antigens; CD4-CD8 Ratio; CD8 Antigens; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Respiratory Function Tests; Thymalfasin; Thymosin; Treatment Outcome