title: [Effect of Chinese herbal therapy on T-lymphocytes of IgA nephropathy patients: a clinical observation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of Chinese herbal therapy on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 36 inpatients and outpatients at Department of Nephropathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, from June 2011 to June 2013 were recruited in the treatment group, while 20 volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the IgAN group only took Chinese herbal decoctions by syndrome typing for 3 months (except those accompanied with hypertension additionally took antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and/or dihydropyridines calcium antagonist). No intervention was performed in the healthy control group. The values of Th1, Th2, and CD4+ CD25+ Treg, and red blood cell number in urine were detected using flow cytometry before and after treatment. 24 h urine protein was detected using inmmunoturbidimetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the healthy control group, the CD4+ CD25+ Treg level obviously decreased in the IgAN group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). In the IgAN group, Th1, 24 h urine protein, and urine red blood cell counts were obviously lower after treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese herbal therapy could reduce urine erythrocyte number and 24 h urine protein of IgAN patients, and down-regulating Th1 expression might be its mechanism.
authors.forename: Xiao-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Da-Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ren-Huan
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qing-Min
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qiao-Qiao
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal