[T cell subsets in peripheral blood and spleen in malignant hepatoma bearing rats]

T cell subsets in rat peripheral blood and spleen were analysed longitudinally by flow cytometer and MAbs in a murine intrahepatic implanted tumor model. In the peripheral blood. OX-19+ cells (pan T cell) and W3/25+ cells (Th/i cell) were reduced with the tumor growth in hepatoma bearing rats, giving a significant difference as compared with the control group. No significant changes were found in OX-8+ cells (Ts/c cell). Hence, W3/25+/OX-8+ cell ratio in hepatoma bearing rats was lower than control group. Meanwhile, on day 17 following tumor implantation, in the hepatoma bearing rats with intrahepatic or peritoneal metastasis, there were less W3/25+ cells and more OX-8+ cells than those of hepatoma bearing rats without metastasis (P less than 0.01). In the spleen, the phenotypes of lymphocyte markers showed less OX-8+ cells and more OX-12+ cells (B cell) in hepatoma bearing rats. It was suggested that, in the tumor bearing host, not only was the T cell immune function inhibited, but also there was abnormal distribution of T cell subsets. It seems that there is a close relationship between tumor growth and its spread and Th cells reduction and Ts cells increase.