Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 15, 2004; 10(10): 1436-1439
Published online May 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i10.1436
Effect of Hejie decoction on T cell immune state of chronic hepatitis B patients
Shi-Jun Zhang, Ze-Xiong Chen, Shao-Xian Lao, Bi-Jun Huang
Shi-Jun Zhang, Ze-Xiong Chen, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Shao-Xian Lao, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Traditional Chinese Medicine University of Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Bi-Jun Huang, Institute of Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Guangdong Administrative Bureau of TCM and Chinese Drugs, No.98374 and No.100108
Correspondence to: Shi-Jun Zhang, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China. zhsjun1967@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-20-87334505 Fax: +86-20-87334505
Received: August 6, 2003
Revised: August 24, 2003
Accepted: September 1, 2003
Published online: May 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To explore the effect of Hejie decoction (HJD) (mediation decoction) on T cellular immune state of chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODS: Sixty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into 2 groups. Forty patients in the treatment group were treated by HJD, and 25 patients in the control group were treated by routine Western medicine. The TCRVβ7 gene expression, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) levels were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTS: The level of CD4+ cells was lower whereas the level of CD8+ cells was higher in patients than in the normal group. There was no significant difference between the levels of CD3+ cells in patients and normal persons. After 6 months of treatment, ALT, AST, TB levels of the 2 groups were obviously decreased, and the level of CD4+ cells was increased whereas the level of CD8+ cells was decreased in the treatment group. However, the level of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells had no significant difference in the control group. TCRVβ7 expressions were detected in 6 patients of the treatment group, whose HBV-DNA and HBeAg turned negative and ALT became normal. HBeAg in another 3 patients turned negative while HBV-DNA did not, and TCRVβ7 expressions were not detectable. TCRVβ7 expression could not be detected in the control group, HBV-DNA of the control group did not turn negative. HBeAg in 1 patient turned negative while HBV-DNA did not, and TCRVβ7 expressions were not detectable. The total effective rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups and the markedly effective rate was significantly different (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: HJD is effective for treating chronic hepatitis B, and its effect seems to relate with the improvement of the TCRVβ7 expression of chronic hepatitis B patients, thus activating T cells and eliminating HBV. T cellular immune function plays an important role in HBV infection and virus elimination.

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