OBJECTIVETo study the cytokines expressions in the adrenal gland and its correlation with serum adrenal corticosteroids in mice of different syndromes.

METHODSUsing the quantitative four diagnosis and syndrome differentiation methods, 60 normal mice and 190 H22 liver cancer bearing mice were syndrome typed. Serum corticosterone and aldosterone were tested by ELISA, and mRNA expressions of cytokines in the adrenal gland were detected using Real-time PCR.

RESULTSMice of different syndromes were obtained, such as normal mice of no syndrome, normal mice of vigorous qi syndrome, normal mice of qi deficiency syndrome, liver cancer bearing mice of excessive evil toxic syndrome, liver cancer bearing mice of evil lying in the middle syndrome, liver cancer bearing mice of weak evil toxic syndrome, and liver cancer bearing mice of poisonous pathogenic factors and qi deficiency syndrome. The serum corticosteroids were significantly higher in the liver cancer bearing mice than in the normal mice (P < 0.05). The cortex hormones increased most significantly in the liver cancer bearing mice of excessive evil toxic syndrome (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal mice, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12alpha, IL-12beta, and TNF-alpha gene expressions increased in the liver cancer bearing mice, while only expressions of IL-1alpha and IL-5 decreased. But the expressions of IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) showed no regularity. The expressions of IL-4 and INF-alpha were not detected in all mice. It is notable that the more severe degree of poisonous pathogenic factors, the higher the expressions of serum corticosterone and aldosterone levels as well as IL-6, the lower expressions of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-5, IL-12alpha, IL-12beta, and TNF-alpha.

CONCLUSIONSThe increased serum corticosteroid level in liver cancer bearing mice could possibly be induced by chronic tumor stress, partial cytokines were involved in the synthesis and secretion of the adrenal hormone. Of them, IL-6 might positively regulate the secretion of corticosteroids, while IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-5, IL-12alpha, IL-12beta, and TNF-alpha might negatively regulate their secretions.