title: Effect of Yiqi Tongyang Decoction () on blood T cell subsets in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the proportions of blood T cell subsets, Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22, and Treg cells, and other parameters in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (CITP) before and after treatment with Yiqi Tongyang Decoction (, YTD) to explore T cell status of patients with CITP, and to defifine the mechanism of action of YTD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets, and those of Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22, and Treg cells in 30 patients with CITP (22 females and 8 males) were analyzed using multiparametric flflow cytometry before and after treatment with YTD for 6 months, and 26 healthy volunteers (14 males and 12 females) acted as a control. T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) mRNA levels in patients and controls were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of Th1, Th17, Th22, Th1/Th2, and Th17/Treg cells increased in the peripheral blood of patients with CITP compared to those in controls before YTD therapy (P<0.05). Th1 cell numbers and the Th1/Th2 ratio fell in the treated patients with CITP to approximate the values of the control group (P>0.05). Th17 cell numbers and the Th17/Treg ratio also decreased in the treatment group (P<0.05), but not to the levels of the controls. The number of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with CITP before treatment was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), but increased after YTD treatment P<0.05), but not to the level of controls. T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood were initially higher in patients before treatment than controls (P<0.05), but decreased after YTD therapy (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imbalances in T lymphocyte levels, particularly those of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells, play important roles in the pathogenesis of CITP. YTD effificiently regulated the dynamics of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg equilibria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Rou
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Lan
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China. xyg312@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins
keywords: Chinese medicine; GATA binding protein 3; T-box expressed in T-cells; Th cells; Treg cells; Yiqi Tongyang Decoction; immune thrombocytopenia