Steroid hormone serving as an immunosuppressor often induces immunotoxicity when administered in highest dosage or accumulated in long-term usage. The stage of high concentration of steroid hormone leading to a wide range of symptoms is associated to the yang-deficient state,which is the part of yin-yang imbalance involved in processes of many diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Here we intend to investigate the profile of Th1/Th2-related cytokine transcriptions under yang-deficient conditions in a yang-deficient animal model by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone (a kind of steroid hormone). The yang-deficient symptoms were estimated by detecting activity,appetite,body weight and so on. T cell proliferation and cytokine transcriptions were analyzed. The results showed that yang-deficient mice were established successfully since typical yang-deficient symptoms were observed in this model with decreased activities,appetite,body weight and temperature. More interestingly,the transcriptions of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4 and IL-10 in this model were markedly suppressed and the proliferation of lymphocytes significantly decreased as well. The results suggested that yang-deficient symptoms were related to the steroid-induced reduction of cytokine transcription and impairment of lymphocyte proliferation. Therefore,novel strategies through regulating cytokine production might be considered as potent approach to patients with yang-deficiency symptoms.
