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Protective effects of Jiayan Kangtai granules on autoimmune thyroiditis in a rat model by modulating Th17/Treg cell
Yi Hou1,2, Xuan Guo1,2, Chengfei Zhang1,2
1Key Laboratory of Health Cultivation of the Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Objective:
To investigate the protective effects of Jiayan Kangtai (JYKT) granules, consisting of 9 Chinese herbs, in a rat model of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), and the possible underlying mechanism.
Methods:
Female Lewis rats (6-8 weeks) were randomly apportioned to 5 groups of 10, including a normal control. AIT was induced in the untreated AIT-model group, and rats treated subsequently with daily low, medium, or high dose JYKT granules. After 12 weeks, plasma levels of thyroid autoantibodies and morphological changes in the thyroid were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histological examination, respectively. The presence of interleukin (IL)-6, IL23p19, and IL-2 in thyroid tissue was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. The percentages of T helper (Th)17 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. Relevant levels of cytokines and proteins were examined via bead-based multiplex flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Expressions of genes and proteins regulated by Th17 cells and Tregs were shown by real-time PCR and Western blot.
Results:
Compared to the control, AIT-model rats had higher plasma concentrations of thyroid autoantibodies. The high-dose JYKT rats showed significantly lower levels of thyroid autoantibodies compared with the AIT model group. Rats in the AIT-JYKT groups also had fewer thyroid lesions and less lymphocytic infiltration, a lower percentage of Th17 cells, and a higher percentage of Tregs, compared with the AIT-model. Rats given high-dose JYKT had a significantly lower Th17/Treg ratio compared with the AIT model. Differences in plasma cytokine concentrations and relevant gene and protein expressions in the spleens of JYKT-treated rats and the AIT group suggested an association between JYKT treatment and lower Th17 cell percentage and higher Treg activity.
Conclusion:
JYKT treatment appeared to be protective against AIT in rats, possibly via the regulation of the Th17 cell/Treg imbalance in AIT.
