[The effects of two TCM prescriptions, Tonifying Kidney and Strengthening Vital Energy, on NF-kappaB activing in aged mouse T cells].

Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the immunologic mechanism of delaying senescence by Strengthening Vital Energy(SVE), Tonifying Kidney (TK) and combined TK and SVE.

Methods: Mice of 20 months were used as senescence model. The effects of the prescriptions on anti-CD3 antibody-induced NF-kappaB activity and the expression of NF-kappaB in T cells from aged mice were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blot, respectively.

Results: NF-kappaB activity in anti-CD3 antibody-induced T cells from the aged mice was lower than that from young ones. The three prescriptions raised the activity of NF-kappaB in the T cells from the aged mice to certain extent. Combined TK and SVE had no influence on p65 and p50 subunits expressions.

Conclusion: The increased NF-kappaB activity may be one of mechanisms underlying the improvement of immune response in aged mice by Chinese medicines.