title: Effects of TJ-9 Sho-saiko-to (kampo medicine) on interferon gamma and antibody production specific for hepatitis B virus antigen in patients with type B chronic hepatitis.
abstract: To examine whether Sho-saiko-to (kampo medicine) could modulate the immune response of immunocompetent cells to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated antigens, we investigated in vitro interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and antibody (antibody to HB core and e antigens; anti-HBc and anti-HBe) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from eight patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) (four with HBeAg and four with anti-HBe) in the presence of recombinant HBcAg and purified HBeAg. IFN-gamma and antibody production were measured using ELISA and RIA, respectively. PBMC from both HBeAg and anti-HBe positive patients generated significantly increased IFN-gamma and antibody (anti-HBc and anti-HBe) production in the culture containing Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) in a dose-dependent manner in comparison with those of medium alone culture. Similarly, when various concentrations of TJ-9 were added to the HBV antigen-stimulated cultures, TJ-9 was found to enhance both IFN-gamma and antibody production dose-dependently. These results indicate that TJ-9 is able to modulate both cellular and humoral immune responses specific for HBV-associated antigens. These findings also may account for, at least in part, the efficacy of TJ-9 treatment for type B chronic hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakumu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; C018142:saiko-keishi-to; D007371:Interferon-gamma