[The effects and mechanisms of Forsythia suspense on the expression of Foxp3 on splenocytes and level of Treg in peripheral blood in severely burnt rats].

Aim: To explore the immunity modulation function of aqueous of Forsythia suspense (AFS) and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: Rats of burned model group were burned with vapor under 3 mpa pressure and 108 degrees C temperature for 8 seconds to achieve deep partial-thickness burn, to make a thirty percent total body surface area (TBSA) burn. The experiment were divided into five groups:

Control Group: without any treatment; 8PBH group: 8 h after burn; the rats of AFS1 group, AFS2 group and AFS3 group of them were given AFS 5 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, 1.25 g/kg once a day by Po. pathway for seven days before burns, respectively. Rats were sacrificed before and 8h after burn, The percentage of Treg cells in CD4(+) T cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM); the expression of Foxp3 mRNA on splenocytes were measured by RT-PCR, and the protein of Foxp3 activity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining.

Results: Compared with CONTROL GROUP, the expression of Foxp3 mRNA and protein on the splenocytes were upregulated markedly (P<0.01), and the percentage of Treg were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the 8PBH group. AFS1, AFS2 and AFS3 significantly attenuated these increases (P<0.01), which was dose-dependent.

Conclusion: AFS has immunity modulation function and mechanism of it is corrected with Foxp3 mRNA on splenocytes.