Effects of Liuwei Buqi capsules on CD4+CD25+forkhead box protein 3+regulatory T cells,helper T cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of Liuwei Buqi capsules on CD4+CD25+forkhead box protein 3+(Foxp3+)regulatory T cells(Tregs),helper T cells(Ths)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Eighty COPD patients admitted into the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2012 to May 2013 were randomly divided into a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)experimental group(40 cases)and a western medicine control group(40 cases);there were 40 research volunteers enrolled as healthy controls. After admission,both the TCM experimental group and western medicine control group were given conventional western medicine comprehensive treatment. Additionally,in the TCM experimental group,Liuwei Buqi capsules were given orally once 3 pills(0.4 g/pill)and twice a day,while in the western medicine control group nifedipine was given,once 10 mg and 3 times a day,30 days constituting one therapeutic course for both groups. BODE evaluation means that the body mass index(B),the degree of airflow obstruction(O),the scores of dyspnea(D)and excercise capacity(E)of COPD patients were evaluated. A spirometer was used to observe the changes in the patient's pulmonary function to detect the dyspnea score. The γ-interferon(IFN-γ),interleukin (IL-4 and IL-17)in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of Treg of peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry. Results Compared with healthy control group,lung function parameters,IL-4,CD4+CD25+Treg and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg of peripheral blood were increased,while dyspnea score,BODE score,the expressions of IFN-γ,Th1/Th2,IL-17 in serum were decreased significantly in the COPD group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). After treatment,compared with those before treatment in the two groups, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),FEV1/forced vital capacity(FVC),IL-4,CD4+CD25+Treg, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg were all increased,while dyspnea score,BODE score,IFN-γ,Th1/Th2,IL-17 were all decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the peak expiratory flow(PEF)was decreased in western medicine control group and increased in TCM experimental group. After treatment,the comparisons of ratio of FEV1/FVC〔(78.12±14.96)%vs.(67.52±10.39)%〕,BODE score(1.07±0.72 vs. 1.77±0.74),IL-17(μg/L40.80±8.97 vs. 48.22±6.51) Th1/Th2(1.05±0.23 vs. 1.42±0.21)and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg〔(6.61±2.26)% vs.(5.25±2.03)%〕between the two groups were all of statistical significant difference(all P<0.05). Conclusion Liuwei Buqi capsules can improve COPD symptoms by up-regulating the expressions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg,IL-4,and down-regulating the expressions of IFN-γ,IL-17 to correct the balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with COPD.