Detection of ZC rosette-forming lymphocytes in the healthy aged with Taichiquan (88 style) exercise.

Taking the percentage of zymosan-complement complex rosette forming cells (ZC-RFC%) and the number of zymosan-complement Complex rosette forming cells (ZC-RFC) in the peripheral blood as indices of humoral immunity, bone marrow derived lymphocytes were detected by modified Sondra B cell assay in 24 healthy aged taking part in Taichiquan (88 style) exercise and 24 age-matched normal subjects without any physical training. At rest, the ZC-RFC% of the exercise group was lower than that of the controls; immediately following a set of Taichiquan exercise, the increments of ZC-RFC% and ZC-RFC were highly significant. These findings give evidence of humoral immunity which supports the viewpoint that Taichiquan exercise can induce enhancement of cellular immunity in the aged.