title: Immunotoxicity of hydrocortisone on Th1/Th2-related cytokine production is associated with yang-deficient state in traditional Chinese medicine.
abstract: Steroid hormone serving as an immunosuppressor often induces immunotoxicity when administered in highest dosage or accumulated in long-term usage. The stage of high concentration of steroid hormone leading to a wide range of symptoms is associated to the yang-deficient state, which is the part of yin-yang imbalance involved in processes of many diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Here we intend to investigate the profile of Th1/Th2-related cytokine transcriptions under yang-deficient conditions in a yang-deficient animal model by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone (a kind of steroid hormone). The yang-deficient symptoms were estimated by detecting activity, appetite, body weight and so on. T cell proliferation and cytokine transcriptions were analyzed. The results showed that yang-deficient mice were established successfully since typical yang-deficient symptoms were observed in this model with decreased activities, appetite, body weight and temperature. More interestingly, the transcriptions of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 in this model were markedly suppressed and the proliferation of lymphocytes significantly decreased as well. The results suggested that yang-deficient symptoms were related to the steroid-induced reduction of cytokine transcription and impairment of lymphocyte proliferation. Therefore, novel strategies through regulating cytokine production might be considered as potent approach to patients with yang-deficiency symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. yaochengfang@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Chengfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xianbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016709:Yin-Yang
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D006854:Hydrocortisone