ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Spleen-invigorating Prescription (SIP) on dendritic cell function in patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 patients with chronic HBV of Pi-deficiency syndrome type were enrolled and randomized to 2 groups, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group were given intramuscular injection with human interferon alpha 1b, 3 times a week, while those in the treated group were given orally with SIP twice a day, the therapy lasted for 6 months. Dendritic cells (DCs) were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured, then the expression of surface markers, HLA-DR, CD86, CD80, CD40, CD14 and CD11c were detected before and after treatment by flow cytometry, and the function of DCs was also evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) determination once before treatment and once after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of DCs' surface CD86, CD80, CD40 and CD11c in the treated group were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the changes of stimulating index, IFN-gamma and IL-12 were superior in the treated group to those in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SIP can significantly improve DC's function, so, one of mechanisms of SIP in improving clinical efficacy may be the regulation of immune function.</p>