ABSTRACT
AIM To study the effects of RAPA on lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogen and in mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR), and the effects on T subpopulation and the content of IL 2,IFN ?,TNF ? in mice. METHODS Lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens and MLR were detected with MTT colometeric assay. T cell subsets were measured with fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACs). IL 2,IFN ? and TNF ? were detected by ELISA and biological assay. RESULTS RAPA inhibited murine lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A, PHA or LPS, and also inhibited lymphocyte proliferation stimulated in MLR. RAPA had no significant effect on murine spleenic T lymphocyte subpopulation. RAPA inhibited ConA induced production of IL 2 of IFN ? by murine splenocytes, but had not inhibited LPS induced TNF ? production by murine peritoneal macrophage. CONCLUSION The immunosuppressive mechanism of RAPA is distinct from CsA.