title: [Effects of Sanren decoction on Th1/Th2 cytokines in rats with spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Sanren decoction on the immune function of rats with spleen-stomach damp-heat (DHSS) syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty  male SD rats were randomly allocated into normal control group, DHSS model group, and 3 Sanren decoction groups (high, medium and low doses). The effects of the decoction on the body mass, rectal temperature (RT), water and food intake, histopathological changes of the gastrointestinal mucosa and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the model group significantly increased compared with those in the control group (P<0.01), with a slightly increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P>0.05). Sanren decoction obviously reduced the rectal temperature and significantly decreased the production of both cytokines. High-dose Sanren decoction caused more markedly decreased IL-4 level (P<0.05) to result in a significantly increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A shift of Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 immune response is demonstrated in rats with DHSS syndrome, and Sanren decoction produces a protective effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa by immunoregulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. renxi226@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yingfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Wenxiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yaxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013577:Syndrome; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma