摘要
Objective： To explore the effect of Astragalus membranaceus （AM） on T-helper cell type 1 （Th1） specific transcription factor T-box expressed in T cells （T-bet） expression and Th1/Th2 equilibrium. Methods, The levels of T-bet mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） from 15 patients with asthma and 15 healthy subjects were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT- PCR）. PBMCs in asthma patients were incubated with AM and then the concentration of interferon γ （IFN-γ） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） in the supernate before and after AM intervention were determined by ELISA. The numbers of CD4 ＋ CCR3＋ and CD4＋CCR5＋ cells were counted by flow cytometry. Results： The expression of T-bet mRNA and the level of IFN-γ were lower, but level of serum IL-4 was higher in asthma patients when compared with those in healthy subjects respectively. After AM （60 μg/ml） intervention, the former two parameters raised and showed a positive correlation between them, while the level of IL-4 was decreased. The mean percentage of CD4＋CCR3＋ cells in asthma patients was significantly higher but that of CD4＋CCR5＋ cells was lower when compared with those in healthy subjects respectively. After AM intervention, the abnormal change in the two indexes was improved to certain extent, showing a reversing status of Th2 polarization. Conclusion： AM could increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and Thl cytokines such as IFN-γ, and might reverse the Th2 predominant status in asthma patients.
Objective： To explore the effect of Astragalus membranaceus （AM） on T-helper cell type 1 （Th1） specific transcription factor T-box expressed in T cells （T-bet） expression and Th1/Th2 equilibrium. Methods, The levels of T-bet mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） from 15 patients with asthma and 15 healthy subjects were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT- PCR）. PBMCs in asthma patients were incubated with AM and then the concentration of interferon γ （IFN-γ） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） in the supernate before and after AM intervention were determined by ELISA. The numbers of CD4 ＋ CCR3＋ and CD4＋CCR5＋ cells were counted by flow cytometry. Results： The expression of T-bet mRNA and the level of IFN-γ were lower, but level of serum IL-4 was higher in asthma patients when compared with those in healthy subjects respectively. After AM （60 μg/ml） intervention, the former two parameters raised and showed a positive correlation between them, while the level of IL-4 was decreased. The mean percentage of CD4＋CCR3＋ cells in asthma patients was significantly higher but that of CD4＋CCR5＋ cells was lower when compared with those in healthy subjects respectively. After AM intervention, the abnormal change in the two indexes was improved to certain extent, showing a reversing status of Th2 polarization. Conclusion： AM could increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and Thl cytokines such as IFN-γ, and might reverse the Th2 predominant status in asthma patients.
基金
*Supported by Science Foundation of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 04-05JQ03), and partly supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2005037800).
