A comparative study on the effect of BCG-PSN and thymopeptides on T-lymphocyte subsets of normal and immunosuppressed mice

Abstract

To compare the effects of polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin (BCG-PSN) and thymopeptides on T-lymphocytes of normal and immunosuppressed mice, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocyte subsets of single nucleic cell in thymus, spleen and peripheral blood were detected successively by flow cytometry after application of BCG-PSN and thymopeptides. Meanwhile, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio was also calculated. The results showed that both BCG-PSN and thymopeptides could decrease the proportion of CD4⁺ CD8⁺ T-lymphocyte subsets in the thymus, at the same time increase CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte, CD8⁺ T-lymphocyte proportion in the three tissues. The fluctuation in amplitude was greater in thymopeptides group than that in BCG-PSN group. It is concluded that acting location of thymopeptides is in thymus, its stimulating action is stronger than that of BCG-PSN, while BCG-PSN not only accelerates the differentiation in thymus, but also has some direct stimulation to peripheral CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes, and can maintain CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio within normal range. So, BCG-PSN is safer.

Keywords

polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin / thymopeptides / T-lymphocyte / CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio / CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte / CD8⁺ T-lymphocyte

References

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