title: [Effects of interferon-alpha combined with saikosaponin on serum T lymphocyte subgroups and hepatic cytokines in mice with immune hepatic injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of interferon-alpha combined with saikosaponin on serum T lymphocyte subgroups and hepatic cytokines in mice with immune hepatic injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were randomly divided into five groups, i. e., the normal control group, the model group, the interferon group, the saikosaponin group, and the interferon combined saikosaponin group. Corresponding medication was given to mice in respective groups for two days. Peripheral blood was collected 8 and 24 h after concanavalin A (Con A) was injected. Serum lymphocyte subgroups, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), levels of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and IL-10, activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected. Pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Compared with the normal control group, serious inflammation and necrosis was significant in the liver tissue of the model group. The serum levels of ALT and AST obviously increased. Meanwhile, the 24-h peripheral blood CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell ratios and the hepatic IL-10 level obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-18 and TNF-alpha significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the model group, dot and lamellar necrosis was dispersedly seen in the liver tissue in the three medication groups. The serum activities of ALT and AST significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the peripheral blood CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell ratios, as well as the hepatic IL-10 level obviously increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The levels of IL-18 and TNF-alpha significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) In the interferon combined saikosaponin group, the 24-h peripheral blood CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell ratios increased more obviously than those of the interferon group. The 8- and 24-h IL-18 levels were obviously lower than those of the interferon group, while the 24-h TNF-alpha level significantly decreased more than that of the interferon group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interferon-alpha combined saikosaponin could effectively play a role in fighting against the immune hepatic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai. xuedongying11@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Dong-Ying
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Guang-Wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C025759:saikosaponin D