Astragalus membranaceus Injection Delayed Allograft Survival Related With CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Astragali radix (Huangqi): a time-honored nourishing herbal medicine

Astragali radix (AR, namded Huangqi in Chinese) is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. As a widely used ethnomedicine, the biological activities of AR include immunomodulatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumor, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic effects, with minimum side effects. Currently, it is known that polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the indispensable components of AR. In this review, we will elaborate the research advancements of AR on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological practices, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, clinical uses, quality control, production developments, and toxicology. The information is expected to assist clinicians and scientists in developing useful therapeutic medicines with minimal systemic side effects.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Myasthenia Gravis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an acquired autoimmune disease with the disorder of the neuromuscular junction transmission caused by autoantibodies. Currently, various Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for MG. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of CHMs for MG and its possible mechanisms. Fourteen studies with 1039 individuals were identified by searching seven databases from inception to March 2017. The methodological quality was assessed by using 7-item criteria from the Cochrane's Collaboration tool, and which assessed ≥4 "yes" in the domains were selected for detailed assessment and meta-analysis. All the data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.3 software. Meta-analysis showed a significant effect of CHM as adjuvant therapy for improving the effectiveness compared with WCM alone or placebo in treating MG (p < 0.01). Moreover, there were fewer adverse effects and relapse rate in total when compared with the control group. The possible mechanisms of CHM for MG are associated with immunoregulation by reconstituting the functional ability of Tregs. In conclusion, despite the apparent positive results, the present evidence supports, to an extent, that CHM can be used for MG patients because of the methodological flaws and CHM heterogeneity. Further rigorous RCT for MG is needed.

Astragalus membranaceus modulates Th1/2 immune balance and activates PPARγ in a murine asthma model

Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese herb, has been used to improve airway inflammation and asthma. The present study investigated whether A. membranaceus has immunotherapeutic effects on asthma, a chronic inflammatory mucosal disease that is associated with excess production of IgE, eosinophilia, T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced, chronic inflammatory airway murine asthma model was used to examine the status of pulmonary inflammation after the administration of A. membranaceus. The IgE levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed a tendency to decrease after the administration of A. membranaceus. The number of eosinophils decreased and infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition declined in lung sections after A. membranaceus administration. The RNA and protein levels of Th2 cytokines and the ratio of the GATA3/T-bet mRNA levels decreased after A. membranaceus treatment. Furthermore, the mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a nuclear hormone receptor, increased in the lung tissues of A. membranaceus-treated mice. Finally, an A. membranaceus water extract activated PPARγ activity in either human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) or A549 cells in a PPARγ-responsive element-containing luciferase reporter assay. These results indicate that A. membranaceus has an inhibitory effect on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma through modulating the imbalanced relationship between Th1 and Th2 cytokines.

Effect of Sanqi Oral Liquid on the expressions of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD68⁺ cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine Sanqi Oral Liquid, composed of Astragalus membranaceus and Panpax notoginseng, in alleviating renal injury by observing its effect on the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats with chronic renal failure.

METHODS

A total of 102 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: three treatment groups were administrated with high, medium and low dosage of Sanqi Oral Liquid respectively by gavage; a normal group, a 5/6 nephrectomized model group, and a group treated with coated aldehyde oxygenstarch were used as controls. Following oral administration of Sanqi Oral Liquid for 12 weeks, the general condition and renal pathological changes were observed, and the renal function, platelet count (PLT) and the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells were determined for each group.

RESULTS

There were proliferation of mesangial matrix, renaltubularnecrosis and obvious tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the model group, and they were much milder in the treatment groups. Compared with the model group, the amounts of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and PLT in the treatment groups decreased (P<0.05 for all); and in the group administrated of medium dosage of Sanqi Oral Liquid, the expression of CD4(+) cells was up-regulated and those of CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells were down-regulated (P<0.05 for all), leading to an increased ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+)(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Sanqi Oral Liquid has a significant effect on regulating lymphocyte subsets, reducing the infiltration of macrophages in renal tissues and alleviating tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and this may be one of mechanisms of Sanqi Oral Liquid in delaying the progression of chronic kidney diseases.

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells contribute to the antiasthmatic effects of Astragalus membranaceus extract in a rat model of asthma

Astragalus membranaceus (AM), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been widely used for centuries to treat asthma in China. Previous studies demonstrated that AM had inhibitory effects on airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and airway remodeling in murine models of asthma. However, it remained unclear whether the beneficial effects of AM on asthma were associated with CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells; this issue is the focus of the present work. An asthma model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was assessed for inflammatory cell counts and cytokine levels. Airway hyperresponsiveness was detected by direct airway resistance analysis. Lung tissues were examined for cell infiltration, mucus hypersecretion and airway remodeling. CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells in the BALF and Foxp3 mRNA expression in lung tissues were examined. The oral administration of AM significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness to aerosolized methacholine and inhibited eosinophil counts and reduced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 levels and increased INF-γ levels in the BALF. Histological studies showed that AM markedly decreased inflammatory infiltration, mucus secretion and collagen deposition in the lung tissues. Notably, AM significantly increased population of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells and promoted Foxp3(+) mRNA expression in a rat model of asthma. Together, these results suggest that the antiasthmatic effects of AM are at least partially associated with CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs.