Increase of CD4^+CD25^+ T cells in Smad3^(-/-) mice

AIM： To investigate the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations, especially CD4^＋CD25^ T regulatory cells in Smad3^-/- mice. METHODS： Hematological changes and changes of lymphocyte subpopulations were detected in Smad3＂/- mice using cell counter and flow cytometry, respectively, and compared to their littermate controls. RESULTS： The numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes in peripheral blood were significantly increased in Smad3^-/- mice compared to littermate controls. CD19^＋ expressing cells in blood and spleen, and CD8^＋ T cells in thymus were all markedly decreased in Smad3^-/- mice. More important, Smad3^-/- mice had an increased population of CD4^＋CD25^＋ T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues, including thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. CONCLUSION： These observations suggest that the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations might play a role in susceptibility to inflammation of Smad3^-/- mice.

Effects of neuro-immuno-modulation on healing of wound combined with local radiation injury in rats

Purpose： To investigate effects of neuro-immuno-modulation on wound healing by observing changes of cytokines and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis hormones in acute stress reaction in rats with wound and combined local radiation injury. Methods： Sixty female Wistar rats （weighting 200 ± 20 g） were randomly divided into normal control group, wound group and combined wound-local radiation （CWR） group （25 Gy local radiation post wound）, 20 rats in each group. Contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ and IL-4 in serum were measured and changes of adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） and glucocorticoid （GC） in serum were analyzed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunologic assay, respectively at different time points post wound and radiation. Results： （1） The level of IFN-γ, one of the Thl cell cytokines increased significantly at 14 d post CWIL which was markedly higher than that in control group and wound group. However, the level of IL-4, IL-1β and IL-6, one of the Th2 cell cytokines, did not show obvious change. （2） Ratio of Thl/Th2 （IFN-γ/IL-4） in wound group and CWR group increased significantly at 7 d after wound and radiation, which suggested that Thl/Th2 balance drifted to Thl immune response. The ratio of Thl/Th2 in wound group returned to the normal level up to 14 d after the wound and radiation, while the Thl/Th2 ratio in CWR group increased persistently and was much higher than that in control and wound groups. （3） Level of serous ACTH and CC in CWR group increased at 3 d post wound and radiation, and among them, level of CC showed statistically significant increase, which was much higher than that in control and wound groups. Conclusion： Level of serous neurohormone CC in rats increased significantly immediately after wound and radiation; while the level of IFN-γ showed significant increase only up to 14 d after wound and radiation, and the Th1/Th2 imbalance sustained till 28 d post wound and radiation. In order to reduce acute damage caused by CWR, organic immune system and nerve system showed up a marked regulate effects simultaneously and mutually. Nonetheless, the excessive stress induced by CWR causes distur- bance of immunoregulation, which is one of the key reasons for delayed wound healing in CWR.