Effect of thymulin α1 on in vitro amplification and tumoricidal activity of cytokine induced killer cells in elderly patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia

Objective To study the effect of thymulin α1 on in vitro amplification and tumoricidal activity of cytokine-induced killer(CIK)cells in elderly patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia(B-CLL). Methods Thymulin α1,an immunoenhancement agent,was subcutaneously injected at the dose of 1.6mg/d,for 14 days which served as a cycle.Peripheral monocytes,collected from 4 elderly B-CLL patients,once a week followed by 3 times a week before and after thymulin α1 was used.CIK cells were induced into CIK cells with IFN-γ,IL-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody.The number of amplified CIK cells and effectors,subgroups of lymphocytes and in vitro tumoricidal activity of CIK cells were detected. Results The CIK cells were cultured for 24 times before and after the patients were treated with thymulin α1.The average amplification time was(13.8±1.4)d and the cell survival rate was 95.46%±3.12%.The number of CD3⁺,CD8⁺,CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD3⁺CD56⁺ T cells was significantly greater after culture than before culture(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was observed in the number of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells before and after culture(P>0.05).The number of amplified CIK cells and effectors,subgroups of lymphocytes and in vitro tumoricidal activity of CIK cells were significantly higher after thymosin α1 treatment than before thymosin α1 treatment(P<0.05). Conclusion Thymulin α1 can increase the in vitro amplification and tumoricidal activity of CIK cells in elderly patient with B-CLL.