OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic and long-term effects of three methods for regulating and invigorating Fei-Shen [reinforcing Fei and invigorating Pi (RFIP), reinforcing Fei and invigorating Shen (RFIS), benefiting qi and nourishing Shen (BQNS)] on T lymphocyte subsets and CD4+ CD25+ in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODSTotally 120 rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the RFIP group, the RFIS group, the BQNS group, and the aminophylline group, 20 in each group. Except those in the control group, the rest rats were exposed to cigarette smoking and bacterial infection to prepare the COPD rat model. Rats in the RFIP group, the RFIS group, the BQNS group, and the aminophylline group were administrated with Bufei Jianpi Recipe, Bufei Yishen Recipe, Yiqi Zishen Recipe, and aminophylline from week 9 to 20. After rats were sacrificed at week 20 and 32, lung pathological impairments and the levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ / CD8+) and CD4+ CD25+ in the peripheral blood and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected.

RESULTSAt week 20 and 32, the impairments in the lungs were obvious in rats of the model group, while the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ CD25+ were significantly lower in the peripheral blood and the BALF in the model group than in the controls group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and they were higher in the four groups than in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). However, the levels of CD3+ and CD4+ in the peripheral blood and the BALF were higher in the three TCM-treated groups than in the aminophylline group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CD4+ in the peripheral blood in the RFIP group was higher than in the RFIS group and the BQNS group (P < 0.01). At week 20, the ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ was higher in the RFIP group than in the aminophylline group (P < 0.01). CD4+ was higher in the three TCM-treated groups than in the aminophylline group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). At week 32, the ratio of CD4+ / CD+ in the three TCM- and aminophylline-treated groups was higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05). CD4+ in the RFIP group and the RFIS group was higher than that of the aminophylline group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with that at week 20, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in the BALF group was significantly higher in the RFIP at week 32 (P < 0.05). The CD4+ CD25+ levels in the peripheral blood and BALF of the BQNS group was significantly lower (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy and long-term effects of three methods for regulating and invigorating Fei-Shen might be possibly associated with regulating T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ / CD8+) and CD4+ CD25+ levels. Of them, RFIP showed significant effects in regulating CD4+ and CD4+ / CD8+ in the peripheral blood and BALF.