[The effect of trichosanthin on immunoregulatory T lymphocytes]

The effect of trichosanthin (TCS) on immune system has drawn attentions of the investigators both at home and abroad. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prospects of TCS on autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiency diseases by detecting the immunoregulatory T lymphocytes (T8, 2H4, 4B4) count and cellular DNA content under the influence of TCS with flow cytometer using indirect immunofluorescence technique and lymphocyte culture in normal subjects and systemic lupus erythematosus patients. The results showed that the percentage of T8+ cells decreased, 4B4+ cells increased, 2H4+ cells did not markedly change after adding TCS. The raise of DNA content in S stage was dose-dependent to TCS, especially in large doses. It is concluded that TCS could selectively inhibit T8+ cells and could obviously increase the number of 4B4+ cells. It is suggested that TCS could enhance humoral immunity through the ratio of immunoregulatory T cells. So TCS might help immunodeficiency patients such as AIDS to reestablish their immune system.