Abstract:

Objective To compare the levels of inflammatory factors and immune factors in patients with pulmonary ground-glass nodules(GGN) of different nature.

Methods In total, 108 patients with pulmonary GGN were selected and divided into lung cancer group(Group A), benign diffuse GGN group(Group B) and benign solitary GGN group(Group C) according to the pathological results. Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-10(IL-10) levels as well as immune system T lymphocyte subgroup levels(CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+) and immunoglobulin G(IgG), immunoglobulin A(IgA), immunoglobulin M(IgM) levels were detected in the three groups.

Results The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in groups A and B were significantly higher than those in group C, while the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, IgG, IgA and IgM were lower than those in group C, suggesting significant difference(P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, IgG, IgA and IgM between group A and group B(P＞0.05).

Conclusion  Patients with malignant pulmonary GGN have higher levels of inflammatory factors and lower levels of immune factors. Detection of inflammatory and immune factor levels in patients with pulmonary GGN may be used as an auxiliary means to identify the nature of the nodules.

Key words: pulmonary ground-glass nodules, inflammatory factors, immune factors