Objective: To study the effect of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang on CD4+/CD8+and related cytokines in rats with Yang deficiency cold coagulation type osteoarthritis. Method: The 50 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

celecoxib group

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 7 days group and Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 14 days group

n=10 in each group. All the rats except those in the normal group received frozen and physical stimulation methods for 6 weeks to establish Yang deficiency cold coagulation type osteoarthritis models. Before successful modeling

the rats in all groupsreceived gastric administration of corresponding drugs or saline:7 days for Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 7 days group

14 days for Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 14 days group (30 g·kg-1)

and 7 days for Celecoxib group (20.82 mg·kg-1). In addition

the rats in normal group and model group received normal saline for 7 days equally. After modeling

the expression levels of (iNOS)

collagen type Ⅱand (TGF-β1) in knee joints were detected by immunohistochemical method. Blood was taken to test the levels of CD4+/CD8+by using flow cytometry

and detect the levels of interleukin-4(IL-4)

C-reactive protein(CRP)

insulinlike growth factors(IGF) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by using ELISA method. Result: As compared with the normal group

the ratio of CD4+/CD8+in model group was decreased (P<0.05). As compared with the model group

the expression levels of CD4+and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+were increased in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 14 days group and celecoxib group (P<0.05). As compared with the normal group

the expression levels of IL-4

CRP

iNOS and HIF-1α were increased in model group (P<0.05)

while the expression levels of Collagen type Ⅱand TGF-β1 were decreased (P<0.05). As compared with the model group

the expression levels of Collagen type Ⅱand TGF-β1 were increased in various treatment groups (P<0.05)

while the level of IL-4 was decreased (P<0.05); meanwhile

the expression levels of CRP

iNOS and HIF-1α were decreased in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 14 days group (P<0.05)

and the expression levels of CRP and iNOS in celecoxib group were also decreased (P<0.05). As compared with celecoxib group

the expression level of collagen type Ⅱwas decreased in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 7 days and 14 days groups (P<0.05)

and the expression level of iNOS in Haungqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang 7 days group was increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in IGF level among 5 groups. Conclusion: Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang can regulate the immunosuppressed state and has positive function in repairing the broken chondrocyte to osteoarthritis through the methods of regulating the changes of IL-4 and its downstream cytokines iNOS

HIF-1α and TGF-β1.