OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation pattern of the two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying, Yougui Yin and Bushen Yishou capsule, in down-regulating T-cell apoptosis gene expression in aged rats.

METHODSExpressions of T-cell apoptosis promoting and inhibiting genes, including Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, Bax, TNFR1 and TNFR2, as well as activity of cysteine proteinase in cascade connection, such as Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 were determined by TUNEL labeled flow cytometry and fluorescence real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique. The difference between old and young rats was compared, and the different regulation patterns of the two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying and their effects on Caspase activity were compared with those of compound prescription for blood circulation activating.

RESULTSThe two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying could effectively lower T-cell over-apoptosis in old rats, down-regulate FasL and TNFR1 gene transcription, and decrease the activity of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3, while the compound prescription for blood circulation activating showed insignificant effect on T-cell over-apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONKidney-deficiency is closely related to the T-cell over-apoptosis. The T-cell over-apoptosis in old rats could be effectively improved by the two compound prescription for Kidney tonifying through down-regulating the apoptosis promoting genes FasL and TN-FR1 transcription. That is the unique regulation pattern of Kidney tonifying principle to T-cell apoptosis related gene in old rats.