Effect of prescriptions replenishing vital essence, tonifying Qi and activating blood on TNF-alpha, IL-1beta expressions in serum and submaxillary gland of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effect of prescriptions replenishing vital essence, tonifying Qi and activating blood on expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-IP (IL-1beta) in serum and submaxillary gland of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with Sjogren's syndrome.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty-two NOD mice were divided into four groups at random: the model group, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group, the hydroxychloroquine group, the TCM and western medicine (WM) group, with 8 mice in each group. Eight Balb/C mice were taken as the normal normal control group. The TCM group was orally administered with 0.4 mL decoction replenishing vital essence, tonifying Qi and activating blood (100 g x kg(-1)) everyday; the hydroxychloroquine group were given 0.4 mL hydroxychloroquine (60 mg x kg(-1)) everyday; the TCM WM group were given 0.4 mL decoction, replenishing vital essence tonifying Qi and activating blood (50 g x kg(-1)) and hydroxychloroquine (60 mg x kg(-1)) everyday. Mice were sacrificed after eight weeks, and their arterial blood and tissues of submaxillary gland were collected. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta in serum were detected by ELISA. Expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta protein in submaxillary gland were detected by immunohisto-chemistry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with other groups, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta in serum and submaxillary gland in the model group were higher (P < 0.05). The normal group showed lower serum TNF-alpha level than other groups (P < 0.05), but without statistical significance compared with the TCM group. IL-1beta in serum in the TCM group and the TCM WM group were lower than that of the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05), but without statistical significance compared with the normal group. TNF-alpha protein expression in the TCM group and the TCM WM group showed no significant difference compared with the normal group, whereas the TCM WM group were notably lower than that of the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05). IL-1beta expression in the TCM WM group showed no significant difference compared with the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decoction replenishing vital essence, tonifying Qi and activating blood can decrease the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta in serum and submaxillary gland of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome. It may improve pathological damage of submaxillary gland by regulating Th1/Th2 cell factors, in order to achieve the therapeutic effect on SS.</p>

Effect of yangyin yiqi huoxue recipe on immune balance of Th1/Th2 in serum and submaxillary glands of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Yangyin Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (YYHR) on expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and immune balance of Th1/Th2 in serum and submaxillary glands of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with Sjogren's syndrome (SS), and to explore its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 32 NOD mice were randomly into 4 groups, i.e., the model group, the Chinese medicine group [CM, administered with YYHR at the dose of 0.4 mL by gavage (100 g/kg)], the Western medicine group [WM group, administered with hydroxychloroquine 0.4 mL by gavage (60 mg/kg)], and the combined group [administered with YYHR (50 g/kg) and hydroxychloroquine (60 mg/kg) 0.4 mL by gavage], 8 mice in each group. Eight Balb/C mice were recruited as the normal control group. Mice were sacrificed to withdraw blood after 8 weeks. The submaxillary gland was excised. Serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. Protein expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in submaxillary glands was detected by SP method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in serum and submaxillary glands all increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in serum in the CM group and the combined group were lower than those of the WM group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 in submaxillary glands in combined group were lower than those of the WM group (P < 0.05). The ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in serum and submaxillary glands in the model group were higher than that of the rest groups (P < 0.05). Besides, it was the nearest to that of the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>YYHR could decrease the levels of Th1 and Th2 related cytokines and the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in serum and submaxillary glands of NOD mice with SS. It could achieve therapeutic effects through adjusting immune balance of Th1/Th2 in SS mice.</p>