Effect of Tai Chi on mononuclear cell functions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: Tai Chi is the Chinese traditional medicine exercise for mind-body health. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise on the proliferative and cytolytic/tumoricidal activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: Patients (n = 27) were randomly divided into the control group (n = 13) and the TCC group (n = 14). TCC group participated in Tai Chi 24-type exercise for 16 weeks, 60-min every time, and three times a week. Peripheral blood was collected and PBMCs isolated before and after the 16-week TCC, PBMC proliferation and co-culture of PBMCs with the NSCLC cell line A549 were performed for proliferation and cell cytolysis assays. Analysis of NKT cells, NK cells, and CD123+ and CD11c + dendritic cells were also performed.

Results: (1) After 16-week of TCC, cell proliferation increased significantly as compared with the control. (2) PBMCs from the TCC group also demonstrated enhanced cytolytic/oncolytic activity against A549 cells. (3) Significant differences were also found in NK cell percentage at t = 16 weeks, post-pre changes of NKT and DC11c between groups.

Conclusion: Regular Tai Chi exercise has the promise of enhancing PBMC proliferative and cytolytic activities in NSCLC patients. Our results affirm the value of a future trial with a larger scale and longer duration for cancer survivors.

Trial registration: ChiCTR-TRC-11001404 .

Figure 1

Study flow CONSORT diagram. Subjects (n = 32) were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the control group (n = 16) and the Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Chi) group (n = 16). The total number of subjects who participated in end-point measurements was 27 (82%), 13 subjects in the control group and 14 subjects in the Tai Chi group. Reasons for not completing the intervention included withdraw (n = 1), missing blood sample (n = 1), and not attend posttest (n = 3).

Figure 2

Changes in mean NK, NKT, and DC cells in the Tai Chi group and the control group. The units of the change values (NK, NKT, DC123 and DC11c) are percentage of cells in CD3+ lymphocytes. The error bars represent SD of change values. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 compared between TCC group and control group.