[Impact of the method of cooling blood to remove stasis on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the effects of Liangxue Huayu therapy (LXHYT), a traditional Chinese herbal therapy for cooling blood and dissipating blood stasis, on rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and its impact on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

METHODS:

Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated EAT group, cyclosporine A (CyA)-treated group, Tripterygium glycosides-treated group and Liangxue Huayu Recipe (LXHYR)-treated group. The interventions were given by gavage to the rats in different groups once a day. All rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment, and the level of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and the changes of histological grade of thyroid specimen were assessed by blind evaluation. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method.

RESULTS:

There was a significant increase in the serum TgAb level and severe inflammatory infiltration in the untreated group. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased, while the expression of IL-10 mRNA was decreased in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, CyA, Tripterygium glycosides and LXHYF could decrease the serum TgAb level (P<0.05), but the three interventions showed no significant improvement in thyroid inflammation (P>0.05). TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased, while IL-10 mRNA expression was increased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

LXHYT can decrease the serum TgAb level and recover the balance of Th1/Th2. This may provide an experimental basis for further research of assessing the antipsoriatic effect of Chinese herbal drugs with a rat model of EAT as an alternative model of psoriasis in vivo.

• Authors: Hong Zhang, Xiao-Guang Xu, Jun Gu
• Journal: Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine (Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 190-3 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1672-1977 [Print] China
• PMID: 18241657 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• RNA, Messenger
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Interleukin-10

Topics

• Animals
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Interleukin-10 (blood, genetics)
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (metabolism)
• Male
• Phytotherapy
• RNA, Messenger (blood, genetics)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Thyroiditis, Autoimmune (blood, drug therapy)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood, genetics)