Yupingfeng Powder relieves the immune suppression induced by dexamethasone in mice.
BACKGROUND
Yupingfeng Powder (YPF), a Chinese medical formula, is used traditionally for allergic diseases and characterized by reducing allergy relapse. In the present study, we attempted to investigate the effect of YPF on the immunity of mice and the possible mechanisms.


METHODS
An immunosuppressive mice model induced by Dexamethasone (Dex) was used. Blood samples, spleen and thymus were collected. Then, hematology parameters and organ weight were measured; Phenotypic analyses (CD4+/CD8+) of lymphocytes were performed using a flow cytometer; Phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages were evaluated by particle tracers; Spleen lymphocytes were isolated, whose proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. NK cells' cytotoxicity was determined using the LDH release assay.


RESULTS
YPF could ameliorate weight loss and improve low thymus and spleen coefficients caused by Dex. Treatment with YPF made decreased lymphocytic activity of Dex-treated mice back to normal and inhibited Dex-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes. YPF increased the Dex caused low proportion of CD4+/CD8+, and upregulated Dex-reduced NK cells' activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The series of experiments demonstrated that YPF could exert immune regulation and enhance immunity of immunosuppressive mice through adjusting nonspecific and cellular immunity. The results would provide a basis for clinical application of YPF.
No. 422 Hospital of PLA, Zhanjiang 524005, Guangdong, PR China; Laboratory of Oncological Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: yuhualee973@aliyun.com.
Yuhua
Y
Li
Department of Pharmacology, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, PR China. Electronic address: 24313786@qq.com.
Bin
B
Zheng
Department of Pharmacology, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, PR China. Electronic address: zjzhouhuiping@aliyun.com.
Huajie
H
Tian
Department of Pharmacology, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, PR China. Electronic address: 422856837@qq.com.
Xiaotao
X
Xu
Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, PR China. Electronic address: ysun1145@163.com.
Yang
Y
Sun
Department of Pharmacology, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, PR China; Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, PR China. Electronic address: qbmei53@hotmail.com.
Qibing
Q
Mei
No. 422 Hospital of PLA, Zhanjiang 524005, Guangdong, PR China. Electronic address: yuhualee973@126.com.
Xiaotian
X
Lin
Department of Pharmacology, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, PR China. Electronic address: liliu40@live.cn.
Li
L
Liu
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000633:toxicity*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011208:Powders; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011208:Powders; C532967:yupingfeng; D003907:Dexamethasone
Apoptosis; CD4(+)/CD8(+); Immune suppression; Lymphocytic activity; NK cells' activity; Yupingfeng Powder (YPF)