[Modulatory effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Th1/Th2 cytokine in patients with herpes simplex keratitis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the influence of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on serum cytokines, Th1, including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), and Th2, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in patients with herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).


METHODS
One hundred and six HSK patients were randomly divided into the AM treated group and the ribavirin treated group. Levels of serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and gamma-IFN of all the patients and 62 healthy person, selected from donors for control group, were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.


RESULTS
Levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in HSK patients were significantly higher and those of IL-2 and gamma-IFN were significantly lower than those in the healthy control (all P < 0.01). These parameters were significantly improved in the patients of the AM group after treatment, but with no change in patients of the ribavirin group.


CONCLUSIONS
AM can modulate the imbalance state of Th1/Th2 in HSK patients, improve their immune function disturbance, that shows important significance in treating HSK.
Mao
Su-ping
SP
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Applied Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400050.
Cheng
Kai-ling
KL
Zhou
Yun-fen
YF
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D012254:Ribavirin; D007371:Interferon-gamma