title: Modulation of an aqueous extract of Chinese medicine prescription Anzi Heji () on ratio of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+regulatory T cells in anticardiolipin antibody-positive patients with threatened abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate Chinese medicine prescription, Anzi Heji (, AZHJ), on immune regulation of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+regulatory T cells (Tregs) in anticardiolipin antibody (ACA)-positive patients with threatened abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven ACA-positive female patients with threatened abortion in the study group were treated with an aqueous extract of AZHJ 125 mL, twice daily for 4 consecutive weeks. The results were compared with control group composed by 15 healthy pregnant women. The ratio of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg in peripheral blood was identified by flow cytometry. The indicators of ACA were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and embryo development was checked by B-ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the ratio of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in the study group was significantly lower before AZHJ treatment (P<0.01) and significantly increased after AZHJ treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, 20 of 27 patients (85%) showed that ACA indicators turned into negative, and 7 cases of quantitative indicators of ACA titers were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Total efficiency of treating miscarriage by AZHJ was 92.59%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AZHJ can regulate the immune function of pregnant women by increasing number of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Tregs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China. wenwd@nuaa.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qi-Bin
authors.initials: QB
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medicine College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: Anzi Heji; CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells; Chinese medicine prescription; anticardiolipin antibody; threatened abortion