title: [An increase in the ratio of peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and the levels of connexin 40 and inflammatory factors in spontaneously hypertensive rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relationships of connexin 40 (Cx40) with peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory factors of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry was used to detect CD4(+), CD8(+) lymphocytes and Cx40 expression on the cells in the peripheral blood of Wistar-Kyoto (WKy) rats and SH rats. ELISA was performed to test the levels of interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ), IL-4 and IL-6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with WKy rats, the systolic blood pressure, the percentage of CD4(+) T lymphocytes, the expression of Cx40 on the surface of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) in the peripheral blood of SH rats were significantly higher, with the exception of the percentage of CD8(+) lymphocytes which was lower. Also, we found that the serum levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in the SH rats were significantly higher than those of WKy rats. However, there was no significant difference in the IFN-γ level between SH and WKy rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ratio of peripheral blood CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes and the levels of Cx40, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 are significantly elevated in SH rats.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Haichao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Xinzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
authors.forename: Junqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases; Department of Physiology; School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China. *Corresponding author, E-mail: maketao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ketao
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein