Auxiliary diagnostic value of γδT cell, IL-17, and IFN-Y levels in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for lung cancer complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: To investigate the auxiliary diagnostic value of gamma delta T cell, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for lung cancer complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Seventy-five patients with lung cancer, 81 patients with COPD, 52 lung cancer patients complicated with COPD, and 84 healthy subjects were selected. After PB was drawn from the above 4 groups, the levels of gamma delta T cells and total T cells in the mononuclear cells were detected via flow cytometry, and the concentrations of IL-17 and IFN-gamma in the PB were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed to study the correlation between research data and clinical data. Results: Compared with normal subjects, lung cancer patients and lung cancer patients complicated with COPD had significantly higher levels of IL-17 and IFN-gamma in the PB (all P<0.05), but had significantly smaller gamma delta T cell count (both P<0.05), and had no significant difference in total T cell count (both P>0.05). The levels of IL-17 and IFN-gamma, gamma delta T cell, and total T cell counts in the PB were obviously increased in COPD patients compared with those in normal subjects (all P<0.05). Compared with those in COPD patients and lung cancer patients, lung cancer patients complicated with COPD had obviously higher levels of IL-17 and IFN-gamma in the PB and BALF (all P<0.05), but significantly smaller gamma delta T cell count (both P<0.05). The total T cell count in lung cancer patients complicated with COPD significantly declined compared with that in COPD patients (P<0.05). Compared with those in lung cancer patients, the levels of IL-17 and IFN-gamma in the PB and BALF of lung cancer patients complicated with COPD were remarkably increased (all P<0.05), but the gamma delta T cell counts were remarkably decreased (both P<0.05), and the total T cell counts had no significant difference (both P>0.05). Conclusion: The levels of IL-17 and IFN-gamma in the PB and BALF of lung cancer patients complicated with COPD were significantly increased compared with those in patients with simple lung cancer (all P<0.05), but the gamma delta T cell counts were remarkably decreased (both P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in total T cell counts (both P>0.05).