ObjectiveTo study the effect of bacillus calmette-guerin(BCG) polysaccharides nucleic acid on humoral immunity, interleukin(IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αin patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide theoretical basis for evaluation of its clinical effectiveness. MethodsThirty hospitalized elderly patients with AECOPD treated from March 2012 to February 2013 and 60 patients with stable COPD treated at the same time were randomly selected as the study subjects. At the same time, 60 healthy people from our physical examination center were also enrolled and divided into two groups:the elderly healthy group (n=30) and nonelderly healthy group (n=30). IL-8, TNF-α, IgA, IgG and IgM levels were determined. The stable COPD group was randomly divided into two groups:group A (n=30) and group B (n=30). Group A received only routine therapy; group B received both routine therapy and intramuscular injection of BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid (0.35 mg/day, three times a week). IL-8, TNF-α, IgA, IgG and IgM levels in peripheral blood were investigated before treatment and one month later. ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in IL-8 and TNF-αlevels in peripheral blood between elderly healthy group and nonelderly healthy group (P > 0.05), but the IgA, IgG and IgM levels were lower in the nonelderly healthy group than in the elderly healthy group (P < 0.05). Compared with the elderly healthy grouping, IgG and IgM levels were significantly lower in AECOPD group and stable COPD group (P < 0.05), but IL-8 and TNF-αlevels were significantly higher (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in TNF-α, IgA, IgG and IgM levels between group B before and after treatment (P > 0.05). ConclusionsHuman's humoral immunity decreases with age. Elderly COPD patients are at high risks of abnormal immunologic function, particularly in the acute exacerbation period. The BCG polysaccharides nucleic acid can strength patients' humoral immunity. The levels of inflammatory cytokines can be reduced using BCG polysaccharides nucleic acid.