Background & objective: Patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) usually have a poor immune response. CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells (Ts) and CD3(+)CD56(+) NKT cells (NKT) are new types of immune suppressor cells. This study was to analyze proportions and changes of them in peripheral blood of patients with B-NHL, explore their effects on immunosuppression of B-NHL, and the influnce factors, to provide reference for intervening in immune function of B-NHL patients.
Methods: Peripheral blood samples were got from 79 naive patients with B-NHL before treatment, and 25 healthy people, samples of 18 patients who got complete remission (CR) after 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy were collected either before chemotherapy or after CR. Proportions of Ts and NKT were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).
Results: Compared with control group, proportions of Ts, and NKT in peripheral blood of B-NHL patients before chemotherapy were (18.19+/-5.03)%, and (6.08+/-3.29)%, significantly higher than those of healthy people [(11.20+/-3.49)%, P< 0.01; (3.52+/-1.56)%, P< 0.01]. There were no significant differences of proportions of Ts among patients with B-NHL of different clinical stages (P >0.05), and different malignant grade (P >0.05), and between before treatment and after CR (P=0.55). No significant difference of proportions of NKT was found among patients with B-NHL of different clinical stages (P >0.05), and different malignant grade (P >0.05), and between before treatment and after CR (P=0.39).
Conclusion: Populations of Ts and NKT commonly increased in peripheral blood of patients with B-NHL, they may play roles in immunosuppression of B-NHL.