The impact of photodynamic therapy on cellular immune function in patients with cervical HPV infection

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Brazil), 2024, Vol.80, p.100537, Article 100537
• Main Authors: Ju, Yan, Zhou, Qunyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cellular immune function; Cervical HPV infection; Cervix Uteri - immunology; Cytokines; Cytokines - blood; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Middle Aged; Papillomavirus Infections - immunology; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; T-cell subsets; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100537

•Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) significantly increased HPV clearance rates in cervical HPV-infected patients.•PDT treatment augmented CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell levels, with sustained elevation observed up to 6 months post-treatment.•A higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio was noted in the PDT group, indicating an enhanced cellular immune response.•Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels decreased post-PDT, suggesting reduced inflammation. Cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a common sexually transmitted infection, can lead to cervical cancer. This study investigates the impact of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) on cellular immune function in cervical HPV-infected patients. From October 2022 to February 2023, 60 patients with cervical HPV infection were randomly assigned to a control group (conventional treatment) or a PDT group (PDT treatment), each with 30 patients. Peripheral blood samples and cervical tissue were collected before treatment, at 3 months, and at 6 months post-treatment. Flow cytometry assessed T-cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD3+), and ELISA measured cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8). Baseline characteristics were similar between the PDT and control groups. The PDT group showed significantly higher HPV clearance rates at 3-months (70.00 %) and 6 months (100.00 %) compared to the control group 43.33 % and 80.00 %, respectively (p < 0.05). PDT significantly increased CD3+ and CD4+ cell levels at 3- and 6-months post-treatment compared to controls (p < 0.05). CD8+ levels and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio also significantly increased in the PDT group at 6 months. Additionally, PDT significantly reduced IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels at 3- and 6-months post-treatment (p < 0.05). PDT enhances cellular immune function in cervical HPV-infected patients by increasing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings highlight the potential of PDT in modulating immune responses and improving therapeutic strategies for cervical HPV infection.