Abstract
Background : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder under immunological influence. Gamichunggumgangwha-tang (CG, Jiaweiqingjinjianghuo-tang) and Gamiyukmigiwhang-tang (YM, Jiaweiliuweidihuang-tang) are herbal tonics for asthma from traditional herbal medicine. Objective : To evaluate the effect of CG and YM on immune cell & serum OA-specific IgE in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a rat asthma model. Materials and Methods : Rats were sensitized with OA; at day I sensitized group and CG and YM groups were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of Al(OH)3 in a total volume of 2ml. At the same time, 1 ml of 0.9% saline containing $6{\times}10^9$ B. pertussis bacilli was injected by Lp. 14 days after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2% (wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BALF was collected from the rats. Rats were orally administered with each of CG and YM extract for 14 days since the day after local immunization. Lymphocyte, CD4＋ T cell and CD8＋ T cell counts, CD4＋/CD8＋ ratio in BALF, change of serum OA-specific IgE level, CD4＋ T cell and CD8＋ T cell percentages in the peripheral blood were measured and evaluated. Results : CG and YM showed an alleviating effect on asthmatic responses of rats. CG decreased total cell, lymphocyte, CD4＋ T cells in BALF, and serum OA-specific IgE level as compared with the control group. YM decreased lymphocytes as compared with the control group. CD4＋/CD8＋ ratio in BALF from the CG and YM groups and serum OA-specific IgE level from the YM group didn't show any significant variation from the control group. Conclusion : CG alleviated asthmatic hyperreactivity of the immune system through CD4＋ T cells and serum IgE. Further the study of this immune system modulating mechanism is expected.
