%A Qi Wang, Shi-lin Yao, Jing Dong, Hong-dong Wu, Cheng-yu Wu, Zhong-yuan Xia, He-feng Shi, Guo-ming Pan, Qi-wei Pan, Jian-xiong Zhao, Jing Cai, Zheng-zhi Cui %T Changes of endocrine and immune function in subjects of yang deficiency constitution %0 Journal Article %D 2008 %J Journal of Integrative Medicine %R 10.3736/jcim20081204 %P 1226-1232 %V 6 %N 12 %U {http://www.jcimjournal.com/CN/abstract/article_888.shtml} %8 2008-12-20 %X

Objective:

To investigate the changes of endocrine, cyclic nucleotide and immune systems in subjects of yang deficiency constitution, and to explore the relationship among characteristics and causes of yang deficiency constitution, the physiological and biochemical parameters.


Methods:

Based on the diagnostic criteria for the clinical epidemiological investigation, sixty subjects of yang deficiency constitution and fifty of normal constitution were selected. Eight milliliters venous blood were taken from overnight fasted subjects at 8:00-9:00. The sera were obtained by centrifugation of the blood at the speed of 3 000 r/min for 5 minutes, and they were stored at –70 ℃ until use. The serum levels of corticosterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropic-stimulating hormone (TSH), interleukin-1β and interleukin-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the cAMP/cGMP ratio was also computed; and the differences of the above indexes were compared between the two types of subjects.


Results: 

The serum levels of corticosterone, interleukin-1β, TSH and cAMP/cGMP ratio of yang deficiency constitution significantly increased as compared with those of normal constitution, and the serum levels of cortisol, ACTH, cGMP and FT4 of yang deficiency constitution significantly decreased in comparison with those of normal constitution.


Conclusion: 

Subjects of yang deficiency constitution may be not only related to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, but also related to the functional disorders of cyclic nucleotide and immune systems.