Xiaoyin recipe ( ) for psoriasis induces a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the regulatory mechanism of Xiaoyin Recipe () on the T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) immune balance.


METHODS
Thirty-six experimental animals were divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group: blank control group (B group), negative control group (N group), and Xiaoyin Recipe treatment group (T group). The latter two groups received immunization of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), and T group were treated with Xiaoyin Recipe for a month. Then, the expression of Th1-Th2-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were screened with Oligo GEArray Rat Th1-Th2-Th3 Microarray. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet), and GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Gene array screening showed that compared to N group, in T group after Xiaoyin Recipe treatment, 3 genes were upregulated in EAT rats, including interleukin-27 receptor alpha (IL-27rα), glomulin (Glmn), and GATA-3, while 38 genes were downregulated, such as CD28, IL-18, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), T-bet, TNF receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4), TNF ligand superfamily member 5 (TNFSF5), and TNF receptor superfamily member 5 (TNFRSF5). While RT-PCR showed that there was an increased level of TNF-α mRNA (P<0.01), an elevated ratio of T-bet/GATA-3, and a decreased level of IL-10 mRNA in PBMC of N and T group compared to B group (P <0.01); and after treatment with Xiaoyin Recipe, IL-10 mRNA level increased (P <0.01), while TNF-α mRNA level and T-bet/GATA-3 ratio decreased in T group compared to N group (P <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Xiaoyin Recipe for psoriasis could induce a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in PBMC of EAT rats and thus improve the conditions.
Department of Dermatology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Xiao-Guang
XG
Xu
Hong
H
Zhang
Xin-Ling
XL
Bi
Jun
J
Gu
Yu-Ling
YL
Shi
Qiang
Q
Hou
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C574802:xiaoyin; D016753:Interleukin-10