[The influence of rapamycin on BTLA expression of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes]

To explore the effect of rapamycin (RPM) on the expression of B and T lymphocyte attenuate (BTLA) on human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, providing a experimental basis for application of RPM to organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the T cells were isolated from PBMCs with immunomagnetic beads. Concanavalin A (Con A) used to stimulate and activate the human peripheral blood T cells. The proliferation of T cells was detected by MTT colorimetry. The levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in cell culture supernatant were detected by ELISA. The expression of BTLA on T cells was assayed by Flow cytometry.

The expression of BTLA on T cells treated with various concentrations (10-1 000 ng/L) of RPM had no significant difference, while had significant difference (P<0.01) by compared with RPM non-treatment group. ELISA detection manifested that compared with the untreated group different concentrations of RPM could significantly inhibit the IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion and significantly inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation (P<0.01).

RPM has little effect on expression BTLA, but has stronger inhibition on lymphocyte proliferation and inflammatory cytokines secretion. Suggesting that RPM is suitable for the treated of organ transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases.