Complementary usage of Rhodiola crenulata (L.) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: the effects on cytokines and T cells.
Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease predominantly involving T cells, no study of Rhodiola as an immunomodulator in COPD patients has been reported. In this study, COPD patients took Rhodiola crenulata 500 mg (n = 38) or placebo (starch/phosphate buffered saline) (n = 19) daily for 12 weeks and were compared with untreated, age-matched, and sex-matched non-COPD control subjects. Our results showed that serum levels of IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ in COPD patients before treatment are significantly higher than levels in non-COPD controls (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in IFN-γ was seen in the Rhodiola treatment group (p < 0.05) but not in the placebo group (p > 0.05). The results suggested that Rhodiola treatment had beneficial antiinflammation effects, lower COPD assessment test score and decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, on COPD patients (p < 0.05). The effects of Rhodiola treatment on COPD patients were shown to decrease the IFN-γ concentration and CD8(+) count but increase the expressions of CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) and CD4(+) CD25(+) CD45(+) FOXP3(+) in the blood significantly (p < 0.05). This is the first trial using Rhodiola as a complementary therapy for COPD patients. T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD through the increased expression of CD8(+) T cells and IFN-γ and may be a viable target for potential therapy.
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Shih-Pin
SP
Chen
Rosa
R
Huang Liu
Tsong-Ming
TM
Lu
James Cheng-Chung
JC
Wei
Tzu-Chin
TC
Wu
Wei-Yu
WY
Tsai
Chung-Hung
CH
Tsai
Chi-Chiang
CC
Yang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029771:Rhodiola / Q000737:chemistry*
C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508594:IL2 protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
COPD; Rhodiola; T cells; cytokine