Purpose: Prospective research demonstrated that Chinese prescription Shenyang could prolong the survival time and improve the survival rate of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). But the mechanism was not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of Shenyang on the level of Th1/Th2 cytokines in serum of SD rats with SCC of tongue and clarify its mechanism.
Methods: Among 80 SD rats fed by 0.002% 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) drinking water for 36 weeks, 61 with SCC of tongue had been found and randomly divided into 4 groups, namely Shenyang A, Shenyang B, positive and negative control group. Before and after high and low dosage of Shenyang, acanthopanax senticoside and water had been given for 15 days respectively, peripheral blood serum was collected. Secretion of Th1-type cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, IL-2, TNF-alpha and Th2-type cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was made with paired t test.
Results: Shenyang significantly enhanced ,the serum levels of Th1-type cytokine, TNF-alpha and IL-2 (P<0.05), and decreased the expression of Th2-type cytokine, IL-4 and IL-10(P<0.05). Serum IFN-gamma had been increased to some extent.
Conclusion: Reversing Th2 to Th1 cytokines and then enhancing the immunity may be one of the mechanisms in anti-tumor effect of Shenyang. Supported by Science and Technology Development Fund (No.014319359) of Shanghai Municipality.