[Effect of kebimin decoction on serum levels of adhesion molecule and Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with allergic rhinitis]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of Kebimin decoction (KD) in treating allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: Sixty patients with AR were randomly divided into two groups, patients in the treated group (TG) were treated with KD, those in the control group (CG) were given Xinfang rhinitis capsule. The serum levels of adhesion molecule (sICAM-1, P-selectin), Th1 cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after treatment, and compared with those in 30 healthy subjects as control.

Results: The serum levels of adhesion molecule and Th2 cytokines were higher and Th1 cytokines were lower in AR patients than those in healthy control (P < 0.01). After treatment, these indexes were restored significantly (P < 0.01) in the treated group, but no significant change was found in the control group.

Conclusion: KD has definite effect in treating allergic rhinitis by inhibiting production of adhesion molecule and regulating the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines to correct the imbalanced Th1/Th2 cytokines network.