Abstract: Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the effects of an extract from the male zooid on reversing the radiation-induced immunosuppression of rats bearing W256 carcinoma. MethodsTumor models were established by subcutaneously injecting W256 tumor cells into rats. 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The thymus index and the spleen index were used as parameters to evaluate the effect of an extract from the male zooid on non-specific and specific immune function of rats with tumor. The presence of Interferon gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the peripheral blood serum were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate cell-mediated immune responses and T subsets were determined by flow cytometry(FCM). ResultsThe extract from the male zooid significantly raised the thymus index and the spleen index of rats with tumors. The number of CD4⁺T and the CD4⁺T/CD8⁺T ratio of W256-bearing rats treated with the extract from the male zooid significantly increased compared with the radiotherapy group (P＜0.05). Also, the level of Interferon-gamma (INF-γ) was up-regulated and interleukin-4(IL-4) was down-regulated. ConclusionsThe extract from the male zooid of Antheraea pernyi has effect of reversing the radiation-induced immunosuppression and could be regarded as a main assistant agent combined with traditional radiotherapy for treatment of malignant tumors.

Key words: Antheraea pernyi, Th1/Th2 shift, T-lymphocyte Subsets, Rat, Wistar