Eliminating heat and wetness evil therapy for influenza virus infection

Abstract

Objective To observe the role of eliminating heat and wetness evil in mice with viral pneumonia due to influenza virus infection, and to provide experimental support for clinical differentiation and treatment by exploring the immune regulating mechanism of this traditional Chinese therapy for influenza virus. Methods The antiviral effect of the therapy was observed in vitro, so was the role of this treatment in pneumonia due to influenza virus infection in mice. The rat model of viral pneumonia was established by using FM1 strains. The mice were randomly assigned to normal group, model group, Haoqinqingdan decoction group, or ribavirin group. The rates of CD3/CD4 and CD8 were detected by flow cytometry, so were serum levels of IL-4, IL-8, and IFN-γ by ELISA. Results The therapy did not have an inhibiting effect on FM1 strains, but did have on influenza virus-induced pneumonia; there was a significant difference as compared with the model group (P 0.05). Haoqinqingdan decoction had some inhibiting effect on the decreases in the rates of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ and reduced levels of TIL-18 and IFN-γ. Conclusions Eliminating heat and wetness evil therapy can not kill influenza virus directly. It reduces abnormal cellular immune response and strengthen humoral immune function which is beneficial of the repair of damaged tissues by adjusting the rate of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ and by reducing the expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-18. Key words: Eliminating heat and wetness evil therapy; Influenza virus; IFN- 7 ; IL-18; IL-4