[Prophylactic immunization of dangguibuxue decoction against Cryptosporidium infection in immune suppressed mice].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the prophylaxis of dangguibuxue decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine made from Angelica sinensis and Radix astragalus, on immunosuppressed mice infected by Cryptosporidium parvum.


METHODS
48 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control (A), immunosuppressed control (B), high dose (C), and low dose (D). Mice in groups B, C and D were intragastrically administered with dexamethasone (DXM) for 8 days, and in the same time mice in groups C and D were given high dose (2 g/kg) and low dose (1 g/kg) dangguibuxue decoction respectively. On the ninth day all mice in groups B, C and D were orally inoculated by 1 x 10(6) oocysts of C. parvum. The amount of oocysts in feces was examined daily since being infected. 11 days after infection, the subset of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood was analyzed with flow cytometry, sIL-2R in serum and sIgA of intestinal fluid were detected by ELISA. Pathological change of duodenum and jejunum was observed microscopically.


RESULTS
Compared with the immuno-suppressed control group, there were less oocysts in feces (35.0 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01) and lighter injury in the intestinal mucosa in mice of the high dose dangguibuxue decoction group. Both the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes (47.483 +/- 4.082) and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (2.271 +/- 0.378) increased, sIgA [(320.19 +/- 1.94) ng/ml] in the intestinal fluid elevated and sIL-2R [(321.34 +/- 6.66) ng/ml] in peripheral blood decreased in the high dose group, with a significant difference in comparison to the immunosuppressed group (P < 0.01). All the above-mentioned indices in low dose dangguibuxue decoction group showed no significant difference with the immunosuppressed control group (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of high dose dangguibuxue decoction plays a role of prophylaxis on the infection of C. parvum in immunosuppressed mice through improving the immune status.
Zhang
Xiao-Li
XL
Department of Pathogen Biology, Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
Yu
Xin-Hui
XH
Tang
Xiao-Yun
XY
Song
Bao-Hui
BH
Ling
Hong
H
Liu
Ya-Wei
YW
Wang
Zhi-Long
ZL
D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C477279:danggui buxue decoction