Potent synergistic effect of sho-saiko-to, a herbal medicine, during vaccine therapy in a murine model of hepatitis B virus carrier

Background: Traditional herbal medicine, sho-saiko-to (TJ-9), improves subj ective symptoms, and a recently developed vaccine therapy reduces the viral replication in some chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-carriers. The study pr esented here considers the impact of a combination of vaccine therapy and T J-9 and the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of TJ-9. Materials and methods: HBV-transgenic mice (HBV-Tg) expressing similar leve ls of HBV-related antigens and HBV DNA were used as an animal model of HBV- carrier state, and were assigned to receive either a TJ-9-enriched diet or a monthly injection of vaccine containing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsA g), or both, for 12 consecutive months. Results: Twelve months after starting the therapy, 9% (1 of 11), 61% (11 of 18), and 100% (10 of 10) of HBV-Tg receiving only the TJ-9-treatment, only the monthly vaccine, and both the TJ-9 and vaccine, respectively, responde d to therapy and became completely negative for HBsAg. Spleen lymphocytes a nd antigen presenting cells (APC) from TJ-9-treated HBV-Tg produced signifi cantly higher levels of IgM, IgG and antibodies to keyhole limper hemocyani n (KLH) and showed significantly higher stimulatory capacity in allogenic m ixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) compared with the spleen cells and APC from H BV-Tg receiving normal diet without TJ-9 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These data confirm the therapeutic role of TJ-9 during HBV infe ction and inspire optimism of a widespread use of TJ-9 during immune therap ies.