Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Yugan Sanjie decoction on expressions of regulatory T cells, serum P21 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma

Song Tan, Aihua Hou, Wei Liu, Jinguo Wang, Xiaoming Huang, Yuejun Mu

Department of Oncology, Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39 Xingfu Street, Zhifu, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China;

For correspondence:- Yuejun Mu Email: zr08511@163.com

Accepted: 28 February 2019 Published: 31 March 2019

Citation: Tan S, Hou A, Liu W, Wang J, Huang X, Mu Y. Effect of Yugan Sanjie decoction on expressions of regulatory T cells, serum P21 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma. Trop J Pharm Res 2019; 18(3):479-484 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v18i3.5

© 2019 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Yugan Sanjie decoction on the expressions of regulatory T cells (Tregs), serum P21 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: A total of forty specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Kunming mice were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 mice each. Except for normal control group, the other three groups were transfected with hepatoma-22 (H22) cells to establish a mouse model of liver cancer. Mice in the cyclophosphamide group was given cyclophosphamide at a dose of 20 mg/kg daily intragastrically, while those in decoction group were treated with Yugan Sanjie decoction (0.4 ml/kg/day) intraperitoneally. After 30 days of treatment, serum levels of CD4⁺Th17, CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg, Th17/Treg, TNF-α, and VEGF were determined.

Results: There was lower serum level of CD4⁺Th17 in the decoction group than in negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). However, higher serum levels of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg and Th17/Treg were seen in the decoction group, relative to the negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). Serum TNF-α was also markedly elevated in decoction group, when compared with negative control and cyclophosphamide groups (p < 0.05). Serum VEGF was markedly lower in decoction group than in negative control and cyclophosphamide groups, and was appreciably lower in cyclophosphamide group than in negative control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Yugan Sanjie decoction effectively alleviates clinical symptoms of LC, and improves immune function of mice by regulating serum levels of T lymphocytes. These findings provide scientific support for a new treatment strategy.

Keywords: Liver cancer, Yugan Sanjie decoction, Regulatory T cells, P21 protein, Vascular endothelial growth factor