Changes in peripheral blood TBNK lymphocyte subsets and their association with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the changes in peripheral blood TBNK lymphocyte subsets in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and their relationship with the pathogenesis of AECOPD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 1252 hospitalized patients in Zhejiang Hospital was conducted. There were 162 patients in the AECOPD group and 1090 in the non-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group. The proportions of peripheral blood T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, total B cells, total natural killer (NK) cells, and total T cells in the two groups were determined, and the CD4/CD8 ratio was calculated. RESULTS: The proportions of men and total natural killer cells, and the mean age were significantly higher in the AECOPD group than in the non-COPD group. The T helper cell, total T cell, and CD4/CD8 ratios were significantly decreased in the AECOPD group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, age, the total T cell ratio, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly associated with the incidence of AECOPD. CONCLUSION: Cellular immune dysfunction in patients with AECOPD causes a decrease in total T lymphocytes and the CD4/CD8 ratio, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of AECOPD.