Objective: To investigate the effect of rich selenium-Banqiao-Codonopsis Pilosula (RSBCP) mixture on the immune functions of the aging mice.
Methods: Sixty Kunming mice (half male and half female) were randomly divided into high-, middle- and low-dose RSBCP mixture groups, model group and control group, with twelve mice in each group. The control group was injected intraperitoneally with 500 mg/(kg.d) normal saline and the other groups were injected with the same amount of D-galactose. The RSBCP mixture high-, middle- and low-dose groups were respectively gavaged with 100, 50, 25 g/(kg.d) RSBCP mixture at the moment when D-galactose was injected. The model group and control group were given the same amount of distilled water instead. The mice were killed at the 30th days and the indexes of thymus and spleen were measured. The serum levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, interleukine 2 (IL-2), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were detected by ELISA and the major T-cell subsets of splenocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results: Compared with the control group, the indexes of thymus and spleen in the model group decreased obviously; the serum levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, IL-2 and IL-6 were reduced significantly and the level of TNF-α increased significantly. Compared with the model group, the indexes of thymus and spleen in the RSBCP mixture groups increased obviously; the levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, IL-2 and IL-6 were raised significantly and the level of TNF-α decreased significantly. Compared with the control group, the indexes of thymus and spleen in the RSBCP mixture high-dose group increased obviously; the levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, IL-2 and IL-6 were lifted significantly and the level of TNF-α decreased significantly. The indexes of thymus and spleen and the levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, IL-2 and IL-6 in the RSBCP mixture middle- and low-dose groups had no obvious differences from those of the control group. Compared with the control group, the model group showed significantly decreased numbers of CD3⁺ T, CD4⁺ T, CD44⁺ T cells and significantly increased number of CD8⁺ T cells. Compared with the model group, the RSBCP mixture groups showed significantly increased numbers of CD3⁺ T, CD4⁺ T, both the high- and middle-dose groups showed significantly increased numbers of CD44⁺ T cells and significantly decreased number of CD8⁺ T cells.
Conclusion: RSBCP mixture could delay the atrophy of thymus and spleen in the aging mice, dramatically elevate serum levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4, IL-2, IL-6, lower the level of TNF-α, and influence the proportions of T cell subsets. The mixture plays a role in enhancing the immune function of aging mice.