[Molecular mechanism of epimedium flavonoids in immune homeostasis remodeling in aged rats revealed by lymphocyte gene expression profile].

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the gene regulatory pattern of Epimedium flavonoids (EF) in immune homeostasis remodeling in the aged rats.

METHODS

(1) To quantitatively analyse the apoptosis percentage of lymphocyte in spleen of aged, young and EF treated rats using flow cytometry. (2) To analyse the lymphocyte gene expression profiles of different groups using gene chips (Rat Genome U34A).

RESULTS

(1) Detection of lymphocyte apoptosis percentage showed that there was significant difference in comparing between aged group and young group, between EF treated group and aged group (P < 0.01). (2) As compared with that in the young group, in the aged group, 116 genes were up-regulated and 215 down-regulated. As compared with that in the old group, in the EF treated group, 447 genes were up-regulated and 456 down-regulated, which involved the aspects as cell apoptosis and cell proliferation regulation, etc.

CONCLUSION

(1) The expression pattern characterized by up-regulation of apoptosis promoting genes expression and down-regulation of apoptosis inhibiting genes expression, is the important gene background of immuno-homeostasis imbalance in the aged. (2) The role of EF is to reverse the abnormal changes of gene expressions with opposite functions, i.e. the apoptosis promoting and inhibiting, proliferation enhancing and antagonizing genes, to reconstruct a beneficial equilibrium of gene expression and thus to further remodel the immuno-homeostasis in the aged.