摘要
OBJECTIVE： To explore the regulatory effects of es- tablished Chinese herbal formulas on inflammatory mediators released during asthma attacks, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of asthma. METHODS： Seventy-five asthmatic children were randomly divided into a Chinese medication group （45 cases） and a Western medication control group （30 cases）. Patients in the Chinese medication group were treated with a series of established Chi- nese herbal formulas, whereas the Western medica- tion control group received a leukotriene receptor antagonist and a bronchial relaxant. Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of interleukin （IL）-4, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 （CysLTR1）, and interferon （IFN）-γ in peripheralblood mononuclear cells before and after treat- ment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the peripheral blood levels of IL-4, leukotriene （LTE）-4, and INF-γ before and after treat- ment. RESULTS： After treatment, the mRNA expression levels of 11-4 and CysLTR1 were down-regulated （P〈 0.01） and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ were up-regulated （P〈0.05） in the Chinese medication and Western medication groups; no significant dif- ference was found between the two groups. In the Chinese medication group, IL-4 blood level was de- creased and it was significantly different from that in the Western medication group （P〈0.05）; there was also a significant increase in IFN-γ blood levels after treatment with Chinese medica- tion （P〈0.05）. There were no significant differenc- es in LTE-4 blood levels between the two groups before and after treatment （P〉0.05）. CONCLUSION： Chinese medication has a regulato- ry effect on leukotriene receptor gene expression and the imbalance of Th1/Th2 immune cells dur- ing asthma attacks in pediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effects of established Chinese herbal formulas on inflammatory mediators released during asthma attacks, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of asthma. METHODS: Seventy-five asthmatic children were randomly divided into a Chinese medication group(45 cases) and a Western medication control group(30 cases). Patients in the Chinese medication group were treated with a series of established Chinese herbal formulas, whereas the Western medication control group received a leukotriene receptor antagonist and a bronchial relaxant. Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of interleukin(IL)-4, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1(CysLTR1), and interferon(IFN)-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the peripheral blood levels of IL-4, leukotriene(LTE)-4, and INF-γ before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and CysLTR1 were down-regulated(P< 0.01) and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ were up-regulated(P<0.05) in the Chinese medication and Western medication groups; no significant difference was found between the two groups. In the Chinese medication group, IL-4 blood level was decreased and it was significantly different from that in the Western medication group(P<0.05); there was also a significant increase in IFN-γ blood levels after treatment with Chinese medication(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in LTE-4 blood levels between the two groups before and after treatment(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese medication has a regulatory effect on leukotriene receptor gene expression and the imbalance of Th1/Th2 immune cells during asthma attacks in pediatric patients.
基金
Supported by Major Research Project of Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Three-year Action Plan(ZYSNXD-CC-ZDYJ034)
Shanghai Science and Technology Research Grant Program(No.12401905500)
Shanghai Health Bureau Medical Research Fund Grant Program(No.2006L032A)
