[Effect of kebimin decoction on serum levels of adhesion molecule and Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with allergic rhinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanisms of Kebimin decoction (KD) in treating allergic rhinitis (AR).


METHODS
Sixty patients with AR were randomly divided into two groups, patients in the treated group (TG) were treated with KD, those in the control group (CG) were given Xinfang rhinitis capsule. The serum levels of adhesion molecule (sICAM-1, P-selectin), Th1 cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after treatment, and compared with those in 30 healthy subjects as control.


RESULTS
The serum levels of adhesion molecule and Th2 cytokines were higher and Th1 cytokines were lower in AR patients than those in healthy control (P < 0.01). After treatment, these indexes were restored significantly (P < 0.01) in the treated group, but no significant change was found in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
KD has definite effect in treating allergic rhinitis by inhibiting production of adhesion molecule and regulating the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines to correct the imbalanced Th1/Th2 cytokines network.
Cheng
Li-lan
LL
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Guangdong. zhshifu@gdmc.edu.cn
Zhang
Shi-fu
SF
Xu
Jun-fa
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D019007:P-Selectin; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma