Immuno-enhancement effects of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Balb/c mice.
BACKGROUND
Radix Codonopsis and Radix Astragali, of which Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) is composed, are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve immune function against chronic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was thus designed to systematically elucidate the in vivo immuno-enhancement effects of SFI in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment.


METHODS
Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) once daily with low-dose (2.5 g raw materials/kg), intermediate-dose (5 g raw materials/kg), high-dose (10 g raw materials/kg) of SFI for 10 consecutive days, respectively, accompanied by i.p. injection of Cy (80 mg/kg) on Days 4-6.


RESULTS
Compared with vehicle group, low-, intermediate- and high-dose SFI treatment accelerated recovery dose-dependently of spleen index, peripheral white blood cell and bone marrow cell counts, enhanced T cell and B cell proliferation responses, as well as splenic nature killer cell activity and peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis, and restored the level of interleukin-2 in the serum. Furthermore, SFI treatment promoted recovery of the amount of peripheral white blood cells on Day 6, rather than recombinant human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (rhG-CSF) did.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate, for the first time, that chronic treatment with SFI results in accelerating recovery of immunosuppression in Cy-treated mice, which is competent in taking into consideration for both precautions and remedy. Our findings provide experimental evidences for further researches and clinical application in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
Jinxu
J
Wang
Xin
X
Tong
Peibo
P
Li
Hui
H
Cao
Weiwei
W
Su
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D029745:Codonopsis; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; C521737:shenqi fuzheng; D003520:Cyclophosphamide