Objective:To evaluate the cellular behavior characteristics of the lymphocyte in tuberculous pleural effusion.Methods:Micromanipulation technique was used to detect the adhesive ability of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes

the peripheral blood lymphocytes and the lymphocytes in pleural effusion from patients with tuberculous pleurisy to pulmonary endothelial cells respectively.Results:The adhesive force (2.83±0.43

Pa) of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with tuberculous pleurisy was significantly higher than that in normal person(1.21±0.25

Pa)

but there was no obvious increase of adhesive ability(1.67±0.39

Pa) in the lymphoeytes in pleural effusion.Conclusion:The peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with tuberculous pleurisy is in the active state.Its high adhesive ability is helpful for its keeping close to wall

travelling through wall and exuding into pleural cavity.The normal level adhesive ability of lymphocytes may be owing to the high concentration of dissociating adhesive molecules in pleural effusion from epithelium which saturate the adhesive molecule on the surface of lymphocytes in tuberculous effusion.This implys that the lymphocytes in tuberculous pleural effusion can not be reclaimed easily.They are often wiped off by apoptosis or by thoracocentesis.