OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bawei Xilei powder on CD3, CD4, CD8 T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood and colonic mucosa of rat with ulcerative colitis.

METHODSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, normal group, model group, low, middle and high dosage Bawei Xilei powder group, Sulfasalazine group. Ulcerative colitis was induced by immunization with rabbit 's colonic mucous emulsified with completely Freund's adjuvant in all rats. Rats in low, middle and high dosage Bawei Xilei powder group were administered with 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg Bawei Xilei powder for 18 days by enema respectively. While rats in Sulfasalazine group were enema administered with 100 mg Sulfasalazine, and the rats in other group were administered with equal volume of saline enema as control. We analyzed expression of CD3, CD4, CD8 T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood by flow cytometry and in colonic mucous by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTIn peripheral blood, compared with normal group, in model group, the increased of CD4 T-lymphocytes and CD4 /CD8 ratio, the reduced of CD8 T-lymphocytes, these results were significant discrepancy (P < 0.01). Compared with model group, after treatment with Bawei Xilei powder, CD8 T-lymphocytes increased, but only high dosage Bawei Xilei powder group had discrepancy (P < 0.05). But low dosage Bawei Xilei powder group, other treatment groups' rats showed CD4/CD8 ratio were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). In colonic mucous, compared with normal group, in model group, Rats showed that expression of CD3, CD4 T-lymphocytes reduced and CD8 T-lymphocytes increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with model group, expression of CD8 T-lymphocytes reduced significantly in all treatment groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBawei Xilei powder may regulate their balance between T-lymphocytes subgroup, consequently relieve inflammatory injury in favor of ulcer reparation and tissue regeneration.