[Regulatory effect of zengmian mixture on T-lymphocyte dysfunction in children with repeated lower respiratory tract infection of both Qi-Yin deficiency type].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the T-lymphocyte dysfunction in children with repeated infection of lower respiratory tract of both Qi-Yin deficiency type (RIR-QYD) and the immune regulatory effect of zengmian mixture (ZMM), to provide theoretical basis for the effective therapy.


METHODS
Peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets and expressions of T-lymphocyte activating related surface molecules (CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD25+, etc.) in children with RIR-QYD, 31 of mild type and 28 of severe type cases, were investigated before administration of ZMM and after treatment of ZMM for 3-6 months (non-infectious stage), using immune fluorescent labelling and flow cytometric technique.


RESULTS
In the patients with mild RIR-QYD, the expression rate of CD4+ and CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells before treatment were all obviously lowered, after 3 months treatment, the positive rate of CD4+, CD3+/HLA-DR- resting T-cell, CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cell and CD3+/CD25+ express IL-2R T-cells were all obviously lowered, but after treatment for 6 months, only that of CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells was lower than that in the control group. In the patients with severe RRI-QYD before treatment, the expression rate of CD3+, CD4+, CD3+/HLA-DR-, CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD25+ all lowered, while after 3-6 months treatment, some recoveries were shown in these parameters but still lower than those in the control group. The total effective rate of ZMM for mild patients was 100%, and the markedly effective rate 78.9%, while for severe cases, the total effective rate was 90.9% and the markedly effective rate 68.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with RIR-QYD, the T-cells decreased with activating dysfunction, the severity of disease is in accordance with the degree of T-cell activating dysfunction. ZMM shows markedly clinical effect in treating RIR-QYD and evident regulatory effect on T-cell dysfunction, but a long-term treatment is needed for the recovery of laboratory parameters.
Chen
Zong-bo
ZB
Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital to Medical College of Qingdao University, Shandong (266003). drchen@public.qd.sd.cn
Yu
Jun-sheng
JS
Liu
Hong
H
D000293:Adolescent; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D019413:Qi; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016710:Yin Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2