[The effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on cell mediated immunity (CMI) in burned mice].

In this paper, the changes in CMI in mice were determined after burn injury, and the effects of APS on CMI of burned mice were investigated in vivo. The results showed that on day 6 postburn, spleen index and thymus index were reduced, T lymphocyte transformation and interleukin 2 (IL-2) production were suppressed. Furthermore, the serum and macrophages from burned mice showed significant suppressive activity upon T lymphocyte transformation in vitro, and suppressive index (SI) of suppressor T cell (Ts) was greater than that of normal controls. Intraperitoneal administration of APS (250mg/kg daily, from day 0 to 5 could restore spleen index and thymus index of burned mice, reverse the suppression of T lymphocyte transformation and IL-2 production, reduce remarkably the suppressive activity of serum, macrophages and Ts. It is suggested that (1) burn injury-induced suppression of CMI may be related to the augmented suppressive activity of serum, macrophages and Ts; (2) administration of APS may restore the impaired CMI after burn injury by reducing the suppressive activity of postburn serum, macrophages and Ts.