Effects of Nutritional Status on Peripheral Immune Cells in Patients with Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Background: The nutritional status affects gene expression in peripheral T lymphocytes; nevertheless, the link between nutritional status and immunity of cancer patients is unclear. The aim of the research was to evaluate the connection with nutritional parameters and the frequencies of T cells subsets on peripheral blood in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: We enrolled 170 NSCLC patients and 53 healthy volunteers who were age and gender matched. The frequencies of circulating CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, naïve CD4+, memory CD4+, naïve CD8+, memory CD8+, and regulatory T lymphocytes were assessed by the way of flow cytometry. Nutritional parameters including albumin, globulin, albumin to globulin ratio (AGR), total protein (TP), pre-albumin (PA), body mass index (BMI), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were also evaluated. Results: Low globulin levels and high AGR were associated with high frequencies of naïve CD8+ T lymphocytes (P=0.039 and P=0.018). Obese (BMI ≥ 25) Compare with the non-obese (BMI<25) patients, the percentages of CD8+ T lymphocytes in NSCLC patients had decreased (P=0.026). Between in other nutritional parameters and the frequency of circulating lymphocyte subsets had no significant correlation. Conclusion: Our findings show that nutritional status should influence the frequencies of peripheral T cell subsets in NSCLC patients.> ≥ 25) Compare with the non-obese (BMI<25) patients, the percentages of CD8+ T lymphocytes in NSCLC patients had decreased (P=0.026). Between in other nutritional parameters and the frequency of circulating lymphocyte subsets had no significant correlation. Conclusion: Our findings show that nutritional status should influence the frequencies of peripheral T cell subsets in NSCLC patients.> <25) patients, the percentages of CD8+ T lymphocytes in NSCLC patients had decreased (P=0.026). Between in other nutritional parameters and the frequency of circulating lymphocyte subsets had no significant correlation. Conclusion: Our findings show that nutritional status should influence the frequencies of peripheral T cell subsets in NSCLC patients.