Effects of baicalin in CD4 + CD29 + T cell subsets of ulcerative colitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of baicalin in ulcerative colitis (UC) with regard to the CD4(+)CD29(+) T helper cell, its surface markers and serum inflammatory cytokines.


METHODS
Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of CD4(+)CD29(+) cells in patients with UC. Real time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect expression of GATA-3, forkhead box P3, T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet), and retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear hormone receptor C (RORC). Western blotting was used to analyze expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, phosphorylation of NF-κB (p-NF-κB) p65, STAT4, p-STAT4, STAT6 and p-STAT6. The concentrations of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β in serum were determined by ELISA assay.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD4(+)CD29(+) T cells were lower in treatment with 40 and 20 μmol/L baicalin than in the treatment of no baicalin. Treatment with 40 or 20 μmol/L baicalin significantly upregulated expression of IL-4, TGF-β1 and IL-10, increased p-STAT6/STAT6 ratio, but downregulated expression of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6, RORC, Foxp3 and T-bet, and decreased ratios of T-bet/GATA-3, p-STAT4/STAT4 and p-NF-κB/NF-κB compared to the treatment of no baicalin.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that baicalin regulates immune balance and relieves the ulcerative colitis-induced inflammation reaction by promoting proliferation of CD4(+)CD29(+) cells and modulating immunosuppressive pathways.
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Feng-Yan
FY
Yu
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Shao-Gang
SG
Huang
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Hai-Yan
HY
Zhang
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Hua
H
Ye
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Hong-Gang
HG
Chi
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Ying
Y
Zou
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Ru-Xi
RX
Lv
Feng-Yan Yu, Hong-Gang Chi, Ying Zou, Xue-Bao Zheng, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 524023, Guangdong Province, China.
Xue-Bao
XB
Zheng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D019012:Integrin beta1; C038044:baicalin
Baicalin; CD4+CD29+; Cytokines; Nuclear factor-κB; Ulcerative colitis