Objective: To explore the effect of hypoxia on the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and co-stimulatory molecules in rats so as to provide the basis for studying the intervention measure.
Methods: Before hypoxia and during hypoxia at 8 000 m for 8 h, 3 d, 6 d and 10 d the change of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and co-stimulatory molecules in rats were detected by flowcytometer with three-color immunofluorescence label.
Results: Rats were exposed to hypoxia at 8 000 m for 8 hours, and CD3+, CD8+, CD8+ CD28- lymphocyte percentages were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared with that before hypoxia. After 3 days of hypoxia, besides aforesaid change, CD4+ CD28+ lymphocyte percentage also prominently decreased (P < 0.01) and CD4+ CD28- prominently increased (P < 0.01). After 6 and 10 days of hypoxia, CD3+, CD4+ lymphocyte percentages were further decreased, while CD8+ CD28+ lymphocyte percentage significantly increased (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: After exposed to hypoxia at 8 000 m for 8 hours and 3 days, activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte was prominently decreased, while with the prolong of exposed time activation of CD8+ T lymphocyte was significantly increased.