OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of inflammation, water metabolism and immune function on the establishment of a mouse model of damp-heat syndrome with MHV-A59 infection.

METHODSTwenty-four mice were randomly divided into control group, virus group, damp-heat group and model group. The peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry, and the serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB and AQP4 in the liver and stomach were determined using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of NF-κB and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio in the virus and model groups were significantly higher than those in the damp-heat and control groups, while the expression of AQP4 was significantly higher in the model and damp-heat groups than in the other groups. Compared with the control group, the model group showed a significantly higher ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4.

CONCLUSIONSMHV-A59 virus is the main cause of elevated NF-κB expression and CD4(+)/CD8(+)/ ratio, while damp-heat syndrome is responsible for increased AQP4 expression, and their synergistic effect results in increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. The mouse model established using MHV-A59 virus and the damp-heat factors can mimic damp-heat syndrome described in traditional Chinese medicine theory.