title: Population of CD40L-expressing cells was slightly but not significantly decreased in lymphoid tissues of collagen-induced arthritic mice treated with Hochu-Ekki-To.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the mechanism of the action of Hochu-Ekki-To (HET) on collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) mice by analyzing the CD40L-expressing cells population.
  
  
  METHODS
  CIA was induced in male DBA/1J mice by immunization with two injections of bovine type II collagen (CII). HET or water was orally administered. The subpopulations of lymphocytes obtained from lymph nodes and spleen were detected at 3 weeks after boost using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the population of CD4+CD40L+ cells tended to be decreased in the HET group compared to that in control mice, there was no significant difference between the two groups. These findings were observed in lymphocytes obtained from both lymph nodes and spleen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HET suppresses the development of CIA. These effects may be partially induced via the decrease in the population of CD4+CD40L+ cells, but the role of this action is probably limited.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Integrated Japanese Oriental Medicine, School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi City, Japan. tkogure@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kogure
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niizawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujinaga
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terasawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C402943:bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang; D023201:CD40 Ligand