Immunomodulatory effects of a mixed Chinese herbal formula on perennial allergic rhinitis patients with high IgE levels via regulatory B cells
Treatment with a mixed Chinese herbal formula for patients with allergic rhinitis
Patients suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis (AR; characterized by rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, or nasal obstruction occurring for an hour or more on most days throughout the year) and eligible for inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups. Those with high total serum IgE levels (≥ 200 IU/mL) were assigned to the H-IgE group, and those with low total serum IgE levels (< 200 IU/mL) were assigned to the L-IgE group. The patients with H-IgE levels were hypersensitive to dust mites or other common allergens, such as cats and dogs, as confirmed using a multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST), while the patients with L-IgE levels were with or without sensitivity to allergens. All patients in both the H- and L-IgE groups were treated with a mixed CHF composed of Xin-yi-san + Xiao-qing-long-tang + Xiang-sha-liu-jun-zi-tang at a ratio of 3:1:1 in powder form. Participants were instructed to take 5 g of the powder orally thrice a day after each meal for three months. We measured the number of regulatory B cells and the expression of CD1d, CD80, and CD86 using flow cytometry after mixed Chinese herbal formula treatment for 3 months. We also investigated the effects of mixed Chinese herbal formula on cytokine expression using a cytometric bead array by co-culturing Breg cells with CD4+CD25- T cells from patients with allergic rhinitis.
1. A clinical history of perennial allergic rhinitis characterized by rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, or nasal obstruction, occurring for an hour or more on most days throughout the year 2. Hypersensitivity to dust mite allergens or other common allergens, as confirmed using a multiple allergen simultaneous test in the high total serum IgE levels (≥ 200 IU/mL) group 3. Male and female patients aged 20 to 65 years 4. Willing to take medicine as scheduled in this study 5. Volunteered for study enrollment and signed informed consent
1. Diagnosed as active infectious diseases, such as acute sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis 2. Severe organ dysfunction, such as impaired renal and hepatic function at initial diagnosis (including chronic kidney disease stages III, IV, and V and AST, ALT ≥ 3 × the upper normal limit), liver cirrhosis, or heart failure 3. Using antihistamine, steroid, leukotriene inhibitors, immunosuppressant, or other Chinese herbal medicine for 1 month before enrollment 4. Women who are pregnant or are planning to conceive