Changes of immune function in patients with liver cirrhosis after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To study the changes of immune function in liver cirrhosis patients after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Sixteen patients with HCC associated with liver cirrhosis were divided into two groups: splenectomy combined with hepatectomy (splenectomy group n=7) and hepatectomy (non-splenectomy group, n=9). T lymphocyte subsets such as CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and Th lymphocyte cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2, IL-10 in 7 ml peripheral venous blood before operation and 2 months after operation were examined and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in pre-operative CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-10 levels in the two groups. Two months after operation, the levels of CD4 (38.2%+/-3.7%), CD4/CD8 (1.7+/-0.3), IFN-gamma (104.4+/-14.9 pg/ml), IL-2 (98.6+/-18.6 pg/ml) were increased and those of CD8 (23.7+/-3.7 pg/ml), IL-10 (55.5+/-11.2 pg/ml) levels were decreased in the splenectomy group. The levels of CD4 (32.5%+/-4.0%), CD4/CD8 (1.1+/-0.1), IFN-gamma (70.5+/-12.6 pg/ml), IL-2 (80.9+/-13.5 pg/ml) in the non-splenectomy group were much lower than those in the splenectomy group, but the levels of CD8 (29.4%+/-4.0%), IL-10 (89.4+/-10.0 pg/ml) in the non-splenectomy group were significantly higher than those in the splenectomy group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Splenectomy combined with hepatectomy for HCC patients associated with liver cirrhosis does not decrease but promote the recovery of T lymphocyte subsets and Th1/Th2 cytokines from imbalance and improve anti-tumor immune function of the patients.