Objective: To observe the immunohistochemical expression of interferon-γ(IFN-γ)

transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)

matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and lymphocyte subsets in brain and spinal cord tissue of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE) rats

and explore the mechanism of Erhuang Capsule

comparing the differences in action for the two dosage forms(capsule and decoction). Method: Lewis rats were immunized with the myelin basic protein (MBP). Rats were divided randomly into nomal-group

EAE-group

prednisone-group

Erhuang Decoction group and Erhuang Capusule group after post immunization (PI). On the day 15th and the day 27th of PI

rats were killed and the immunohistochemical staining of IFN-γ、TGF-β、MMP-9、CD4+、CD8+、CD3+ and CD19+was performed on the sections of brain and spinal cord. Result: Compared with the EAE-group

Erhuang Decoction (on day 27th PI)and Erhuang Capusule(on day 15 and 27 PI)both can raise the expression of TGF-β in brain tissue. Erhuang Decoction

Erhuang Capusule and prednisone can decrease the expression of IFN-γ and MMP-9 in brain tissue and spinal cord tissue on day 15th and 27th PI;compared with the prednisone

Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule can decrease the expression of IFN-γ in brain tissue and spinal cord tissue on day 15th and 27th PI

they can also decrease the expression of MMP-9 in brain tissue and spinal cord tissue on day 15th PI. Compared with the EAE-group

the expresstion of CD4+in brain tissue of Erhuang Decoction group was significantly lower than that of EAE-group on day 15th and 27th PI

while the expresstion of CD8+raised and CD4+/CD8+decreased(The expresstion of CD19+ decreased on day 15th PI). On day 15th PI

there is no difference in the expression of CD8+between the Erhuang Capusule group and EAE-group

others were the same as Erhuang Decoction group. Compared with the EAE-group

the expresstion of CD4+in spinal cord tissue of Erhuang Capusule group was significantly lower than that of EAE-group on day 15th

while the expresstion of CD8+raised and CD4+/CD8+decreased

on day 27th PI

the expresstion of CD4+and CD4+/CD8+ was decreased. There was no statistical difference between Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule. Conclusion: Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule both have the effect on upregulating the immunohistochemical expression of TGF-β in central nervous system of EAE rats

playing the same role as prednisone. They can also downregulate the expression of IFN-γ and MMP-9

are better than prednisone. Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule also can downregulate the expression of CD4+and upregulate the expression of CD8+

to improve the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. The impact on indexs described above may be the functional mechanism of Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule. There was no significant difference between Erhuang Decoction and Erhuang Capusule.