STUDY ON THE IMMUNE FUNCTION OF ERYTHROCYTE IN PATIENT WITH NIDDM

The author measured the immune function of erythrocyte in 50 cases of noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM),and researched the effect of erythrocyte immune adherence adjustmeat factor on the immune function of erythrocyte. The results showed that in patients with NIDDM,erythrocyte C3b receptor rosette forming rate(ECRRFR)was much higher(P<0.01),erythrocyte immune adherence exciting factor(EIAEF)was much lower than that of normal controlgroup(P<0.01);erythrocyte immune complexes rosette forming rate(EICRFR)was much lower,and erythrocyte immune adherence inhibiting factor(EIAIF)was much nigher than that of normalPersons(P<0.01).The study also showed that a significant positive correlation was found betweenthe activation of erythrocyte C3b receptor and EIAEF,and a significant negative correlation wasfound between the activation of erythrocyte C3b receptor and EIAIF.

INFLUENCE OF IMMUNE STATUS OF THE IMMUNE DEFICIENT MICE ON THE METASTATIC PHENOTYPES OF THE HETEROGENEOUS CLONAL SUBLINES OF HUMAN LUNG GIANT CELL CARCINOMA

By using cell cloning technique, 4 sublines (A,C,D,E) were isolated from a cell line of human lung giant cell carcinoma (PLA-801). After subcutaneous inoculation in T-cell deficient BALB/c nude mice, the incidence of tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis were the highest in subline D, moderate in sublines A and E, and lowest in subline C. Tumor cells of subline C also showed similar low tumorigenicity in another T-cell deficient 615/ PB1 nude mice.However, in 615/PB1 beige nude mice with con-genitally combined immune-deficiency in both T and NK cell activity, tumor cells of the rarely metastatic subline C do produce significantly high frequency of tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis.Morphological studies (light microscope, electron microscope and immunohistochemistry) showed rich microfilaments and Vimentin positive in the cytoplasm of metastatic tumor cells. This may imply a possibility that tumor cells differentiate towards the direction favourable to spreading and metastasis.

Decidual natural killer cells and the immune microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface

During early pregnancy, an orchestrated evolutionary maternal adaption toward tolerance of the semiallogeneic fetus is required to ensure decidualization and early embryo development. Remodeling of the immune system involves natural killer cells （NKs）, macrophages, T cells and dendritic cells （DCs） altering the microenvironment in the deciduas. In particular, a unique population of NK cells with a CD56brightCD16 phenotype in the decidua has been proposed to play a key role in the maternal adaptation to pregnancy. However, there is a tendency for pregnancy immunology to reflect transplantation immunology regarding the assumption that the matemal immune system should be suppressed. This tendency is misleading. We discuss how the immune system is formed in early deciduas and the interactions between maternal NK cells and fetal growth. We propose that the maternal immune response must not be fully suppressed and is even necessary for the local response of uterine NK cells.