Effects of Astragalus membranaceus in promoting T-helper cell type 1 polarization and interferon-gamma production by up-regulating T-bet expression in patients with asthma / 中国结合医学杂志
Chinese journal of integrative medicine
;
(12): 262-267, 2006.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-282465
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on T-helper cell type 1 (Thl) specific transcription factor T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) expression and Thl/Th2 equilibrium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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 gamma (IFN-gamma) 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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of T-bet mRNA and the level of IFN-gamma were lower, but level of serum IL-4 was higher in asthma patients when compared with those in healthy subjects respectively. After AM (60 microg/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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AM could increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and Thl cytokines such as IFN-Y, and might reverse the Th2 predominant status in asthma patients.</p>
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Asthma
/
Blood
/
RNA, Messenger
/
Up-Regulation
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
/
Interleukin-4
/
Interferon-gamma
/
Cell Polarity
/
Th1 Cells
/
Receptors, Chemokine
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Chinese journal of integrative medicine
Year:
2006
Type:
Article
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