[Modulating effects of thymopentin on the immune system of severely burned patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the modulating effects of thymopentin (TP-5) on the immune system of severely burned patients.


METHODS
Sixty patients with severe burn were enrolled in this study and were randomly divided into treatment (T, n = 30) and control (C, n = 30) groups. The T lymphocytes and NK cells in peripheral blood in two groups were determined on the 2, 5, 8, 15 and 22 postburn days (PBDs). The patients in T group were treated with TP-5 in a dose of 1 mg/d for 20 days beginning on 2 PBD.


RESULTS
There was no difference of T lymphocytes and NK cells between the two groups on 2 PBD, and there was no difference of total number in T lymphocytes between the two groups on 5, 8, 15 and 22 PBDs. But the NK cell number and CD4/CD8 ratio in C group were much lower than those in T group.


CONCLUSIONS
The function of T lymphocytes and NK cells in severely burned patients could be obviously improved by TP-5, which played immune modulating roles.
Xin
G
G
Burn Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College, Nan Chang 330006, Jiang Xi Province, P. R. China.
Zeng
Y
Y
Li
G
G
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016305:Thymopentin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016305:Thymopentin