EXPRESSION OF IL-2 AND SIL-2R AND ALTERATION OF CELL IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSIVE CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE

Objective To study the expression of interleukin-2(IL-2), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), determine the alteration of erythrocytic immunity and T cell subgroup in the blood of outer circulation in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage so and to probe into the relationship between them, and to explore the clinical significance. Methods Enzyme linked immnunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the content of IL-2 and sIL-2R. The immunoadsorption was employed to examine the erythrocytic immune activity and its regulating function. Streptavidin-peroxidase(S-P) was used to determine the cell number of CD3 (cluster of differentiation3), CD4 and CD8. Results The content of IL-2 in the group with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01), and the content of sIL-2R increased. Red blood cell C_ 3b receptor (RBC.C_ 3b R) and RBC immune adherence enhancing factor (RFEB) dropped greatly (P<0.01), while RBC immune complex rosette (RBC.ICR) and RBC immune adherence inhibiting factor (RFIR) increased greatly. The cell number of CD3 and CD4decreased (P<0.01) and there was no obvious change in CD8 (P<0.05). Conclusion The decrease of immune function was observed in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. The determination of the content of IL-2, sIL-2R, erythrocytic immunity and the activity of T subgroup has an important clinical significance in the occurrence, development, treatment, and prognosis of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.

EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON RED BLOOD CELL IMMUNE AND T-CELL SUBGROUP IN THE RAT

In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on immune system was observed in the rat by using micro- whole blood direct immunofluorescence staining assay to detect changes of the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subgroup and employing red blood cell (RBC) C 3b receptor- yeast rosette test and red blood cell-IC rosette test to analyze erythrocytic immune function. Results showed that after EA of “Zusanli" (ST 36), CD+ 4, RBC-C 3bRR and RBC-ICR in the peripheral blood of the normal rats increased significantly while CD+ 8 had no any considerable changes and a positive correlation between CD+ 4 and RBC-C 3bRR was found. In immunosuppression model rats, the values of CD+ 4 and RBC-C 3bRR were obviously lower than those of the normal control group while CD+ 8 had no any striking changes; but after EA treatment, there were no evident differences between EA group and normal control group in the above-mentioned indexes. There were also no any significant differences between non-acupoint group and normal control group in those indexes. Results suggest that EA of “Zusanli" (ST 36) can raise T cell immune function and RBC adhesion function in both normal rats and immunosuppression model rats, both of which present a positive correlation.

IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDY ON ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN CX43-KNOCK-OUT RATS

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） in Cx43 knock-out mice and its underlying immunological mechanism.Methods Heterozygote （Cx43^＋/-） mice （n=64） and wild-type （Cx43^＋/＋） mice （n=46） were used in the present study.CIA model was es- tablished by intracutaneous injection of bovine collagenⅡ（immunonization）.Acupuncture of Zúsānlǐ（足三里ST36） was carried out from the 4^th week on after the initial immunization,once a day for 3 weeks.Arthritis score and days of onset of CIA were recorded.Intracellular contents of Th subgroups of splenic lymphocytes were detected with flow cytometry.Results The incidence rate of CIA and arthritis score in Cx43^＋/- mice were significantly lower than those in Cx43^＋/＋ mice （P〈0.05）.In Cx43^＋/＋ mice,3 weeks after acupuncture treatment,the score of arthritis symptoms and signs in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in model group （P〈0.01）,while in Cx43^＋/- mice,no significant difference was found between model group and acupuncture group in arthritis score （P〉0.05）.In comparison with control group,percentages of both Thl and Th2 and Th1/Th2 increased significantly in 0x43^＋/＋ CIA model group （P〈0.05）,while compared with model group,the percentage of Th1,Th2 and Th1/Th2 in acupuncture group decreased evidently （P〈0.05） or moderately,showing that acupuncture can effectively suppress arthritis-induced increase of Thl in Cx43^＋/＋ mice.In 0x43^＋/- mice,Th1 level and Th1/Th2 of CIA model group increased considerably in comparison with control group （P〈0.05）,while compared with model group,the Th1,Th2 and Th1/Th2 of acupuncture group had no significant changes （P〉0.05）,indicating that the effect of acupuncture in suppressing increase of Th1 percent and Th1/Th2 was eliminated.Conclusion Acupuncture of Zúsānlǐ（足三里ST 36） can effectively relieve CIA symptoms and signs and inhibit increase of splenic Th1 in Cx43^＋/＋ mice but has no any effect on CIA score,Th1,Th2 and Th1/Th2 in Cx43^＋/- mice.It shows the effect of acupuncture in improving CIA is closely related to Cx43 gene.