[Arginine supplementation in total parenteral nutrition improves postoperative cellular immune function of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after operation].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) supplemented with arginine on cellular immune function of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radical tumor resection.


METHODS
Fifty-six HCC patients undergoing radical surgery received fat-free TPN support, routine TPN or TPN with arginine supplementation, and their clinical data were analyzed prospectively. The percentages of T lymphocyte subpopulation and national killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood are determined, and the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were measured.


RESULTS
No marked changes were noted in peripheral blood CD4+, CD8+ T cells and NK cells, or in IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels after fat-free TPN and routine TPN support. TPN supplemented with arginine resulted in significant increase in CD4+ T cells, NK cells and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as in IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels. Peripheral blood IL-4 level was decreased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
TPN with arginine supplementation can augment the percentages of CD4+ T lymphocytes and NK cells, and increase IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels, suggesting that arginine can enhance cell-mediated immunity in postoperative patients with HCC.
Department of Hepatobilliary Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China. zzx0099@tom.com
Zhong-xin
ZX
Zhou
Long-juan
LJ
Zhang
Xiao-hui
XH
Huang
Qing-yu
QY
Kong
Jie
J
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D001120:Arginine