OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Erxian Decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine and its separate prescriptions such as Wenshen Yijing Recipe (WSYJR, a recipe for warming kidney and replenishing essence), Ziyin Xiehuo Recipe (ZYXHR, a recipe for nourishing yin and dispersing fire) and Tiaoli Chongren Recipe (TLCRR, a recipe for regulating thoroughfare and conception vessels) and some extracts from EXD on the levels of LH and FSH in the primary cultured anterior pituitary cells from female rats. METHODS: EXD, its separate prescriptions and traditional Chinese herbal extracts from EXD were added directly to the incubators. The levels of LH and FSH were tested by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of LH and FSH in the supernatant of anterior pituitary cells treated by EXD or its separate prescriptions including ZYXHR and TLCRR were increased significantly as compared with those in the blank control. There was a tendency for stimulating the secretions of LH and FSH in the WSYJR-treated group too. Dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent of icariin and curculigoside could interfere with the results. CONCLUSION: EXD and its separate prescriptions such as ZYXHR and TLCRR can increase the levels of LH and FSH significantly.

Objective:To explore whether peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction is correlated with the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from patients with HBV-ACLF and healthy controls. CD8 +T lymphocytes number and PD-1 expression condition in CD8 +T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. CD8 +T lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of HBV-ACLF patients were further cultured in vitro. One group was added with PD-L1-IgG fusion protein (ACLF+PD-1 group), and the other group was added with IgG fusion protein (ACLF group). Proliferation ability (ki67), cell viability (CD69), and secretion ability of effector cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) were analyzed. Results:30 cases with HBV-ACLF and healthy controls were enrolled. CD8 +T lymphocytes absolute number was significantly lower in the peripheral blood of patients with ACLF group (333.88 ± 147.74)/μl than healthy controls (872.50 ± 206.64)/μl ( P < 0.001). PD-1 expression in peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocytes were significantly increased in ACLF group (13.33% ± 2.52%), ( P = 0.027) than healthy controls (7.02% ± 2.12%). In in vitro culture, compared with healthy controls, the peripheral blood CD8 +T lymphocytes cell viability (CD69), proliferation ability (ki67) (all P ??< 0.001), and the level of cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) (all P < 0.05) were equally weakened in patients with ACLF group. Compared with ACLF group, CD8 +T cell viability (CD69), proliferation ability (KI67) (all P < 0.05), and the level of cytokine production were weakened in ACLF+PD-1 group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:HBV-ACLF patients have CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction. Therefore, PD-1 may have correlation in the regulation of CD8 +T lymphocyte dysfunction in ACLF patients.