N-Acetylcysteine Improves Inflammatory Response in COPD Patients by Regulating Th17/Treg Balance through Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α Pathway

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#acetylcysteine #administration-oral #aged #down-regulation #female

N-Acetylcysteine Improves Inflammatory Response in COPD Patients by Regulating Th17/Treg Balance through Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α Pathway

Liu et al., 2021 | Biomed Res Int | Rct

Citation

Liu Xiaopeng, Hu Zhixiong, Zhou Haiying. N-Acetylcysteine Improves Inflammatory Response in COPD Patients by Regulating Th17/Treg Balance through Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α Pathway. Biomed Res Int. 2021;2021:6372128. doi:10.1155/2021/6372128

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the change of Th17/Treg cytokine imbalance. Material and Methods. A total of 121 patients with stable COPD at the stage of C or D were consecutively enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. Patients in the treatment group received NAC granules (0.2 g × 10 bags, 0.4 g each time, 3 times/d) for half a year. The control group was treated with the same amount of placebo therapy. The peripheral blood of the patient was collected and the cytokine, T lymphocyte subsets were detected. RESULTS: We found the oral administration of NAC could regulate Th17/Treg balance to resist inflammation in COPD patients. Serum testing showed that the proportion of Treg in CD4+ T cells has increased and the Th17/Treg ratio has decreased during the NAC treatment. In vitro studies, we found that NAC regulated Th17/Treg balance through Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our result could provide new diagnosis and treatment for elderly patients with COPD from the perspective of immunity ideas.

Key Findings

We found the oral administration of NAC could regulate Th17/Treg balance to resist inflammation in COPD patients. Serum testing showed that the proportion of Treg in CD4+ T cells has increased and the Th17/Treg ratio has decreased during the NAC treatment. In vitro studies, we found that NAC regulated Th17/Treg balance through Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α pathway.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population stable copd at the
Sample Size 121
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • Acetylcysteine
  • Administration, Oral
  • Aged
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-17
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
  • Th17 Cells
  • Up-Regulation

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Retracted Publication
  • Vertical: NAC-respiratory

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09