Gene Expression Profiles Underlying Selective T-Cell-Mediated Immunity Activity of a Chinese Medicine Granule on Mice Infected with Influenza Virus H1N1

Abstract EN

A Chinese medicine granule, Shu-Feng-Xuan-Fei (SFXF), is critical for viral clearance in early phase of influenza virus infection.

In this study, 72 ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group, virus control group, Oseltamivir group, low-dose SFXF, medium-dose SFXF, and high-dose SFXF.

Mice were anesthetized and inoculated with 4LD50 of influenza virus A (H1N1) except normal control group.

Oseltamivir group received 11.375 mg·kg−1·d−1 Oseltamivir Phosphate.

SFXF 3.76, 1.88 and 0.94 g·kg−1·d−1 were administrated to mice in all SFXF groups.

Each group was in equal dose of 0.2ml daily for 4 consecutive days.

Mice were sacrificed and then total RNA was extracted in lung tissue.

Some genes involved in T-cell-mediated immunity were selected by DNA microarray.

These candidate genes were verified by Real-Time PCR and western immunoblotting.

Compared with virus control group, in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, 12 virus-altered genes were significantly reduced following medium-dose SFXF treatment.

Eighteen antigen processing presentation-associated genes were upregulated by medium-dose SFXF.

In the process of T cell receptor signaling pathway, 19 genes were downregulated by medium-dose SFXF treatment.

On exploration into effector T cells activation and cytokines, all of altered genes in virus control group were reversed by medium-dose SFXF.

Real-time PCR and western immunoblotting showed that the regulation of medium-dose SFXF in IL-4, IFN- γ , TNF- α , IL-1 β , TLR7, MyD88, p38, and JNK was superior to Oseltamivir and high-dose SFXF group.

Therefore, SFXF granules could reduce influenza infected cells and activation of T cells.