RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on immune function of premature rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RHuEPO of 250 IU/(kg.t) or 500 IU/(kg.t) was administered to premature rats every other day for nineteen days. The control premature rats were received normal saline. The changes of hemoglobin (Hb), serum erythropoietin (EPO), red blood cell (RBC) immune function, T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness, and production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Premature rats showed lower levels on Hb, RBC immune function, T cell responsiveness and production of TNF-alpha compared with mature rats at birth. The postnatal declines of Hb and RBC immune function were lessened in the treated groups of premature rats, the higher dosage group of 500 IU/(kg.t) was more significant than the lower dosage group of 250 IU/(kg.t). When experiments were over, Hb of control premature rats was (7.72 +/- 0.89) g/dl, Hb of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (10.08 +/- 0.90) g/dl (P < 0.01). C3b-R% of control premature rats was (11.00 +/- 0.95)%, C3b-R% of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (17.75 +/- 1.04)% (P < 0.01). IC-R% in control premature rats was (12.83 +/- 1.33)%, IC-R% of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (10.50 +/- 1.67)% (P < 0.01). The postnatal rise of T cell responsiveness and the production of TNF-alpha in premature rats increased in the treated groups, which was more significant in the higher dosage group of 500 IU/(kg.t) than in the lower dosage group of 250 IU/(kg.t). The OD index of control premature rats was 0.159 +/- 0.014, the OD index of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was 0.354 +/- 0.050 (P < 0.01). TNF-alpha in control premature rats was (0.270 +/- 0.014) ng/ml, TNF-alpha of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (0.415 +/- 0.010) ng/ml (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) Premature rats had lower RBC immune function and T cell responsiveness and underproduction of TNF-alpha at birth. (2) Premature rats had an improvement with the RBC immune function after rHuEPO administration. (3) Premature rats had improvements with T cell responsiveness and TNF-alpha after rHuEPO administration, and there was a positive correction between the RBC immune function and T cell responsiveness with the production of TNF-alpha.</p>