Revealing the Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqi Tang in Ameliorating Autoimmune Thyroiditis via the Toll-like Receptor Pathway.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is a common condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, often leading to an underactive thyroid. Researchers investigated whether a traditional Chinese herbal formula called Buzhong Yiqi Tang (BZYQD) could help treat this condition and understand how it works. The study used mice that were given sodium iodide to develop autoimmune thyroiditis, similar to what happens in humans. The researchers divided 40 mice into groups: some received the herbal formula, some received selenium yeast tablets (a standard treatment), some were untreated with the disease, and some were healthy controls. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. The results showed that Buzhong Yiqi Tang significantly reduced thyroid inflammation and lowered levels of thyroglobulin antibodies, which are markers of autoimmune activity. Using advanced genetic sequencing, researchers discovered the formula works by calming down the Toll-like receptor pathway, which is part of the immune system that becomes overactive in autoimmune diseases. Specifically, the formula reduced the expression of several inflammatory genes including TLR8, JUN, TICAM2, TIRAP, and IL-1β. This study provides scientific evidence for how this traditional herbal medicine helps reduce autoimmune thyroid inflammation at the molecular level. For patients considering Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches including acupuncture and herbal therapy for autoimmune thyroid conditions, this research supports the potential benefits of integrated treatment approaches. Always consult with a qualified, licensed acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner when considering herbal treatments.

This study investigated Buzhong Yiqi Tang's (BZYQD) mechanism in treating autoimmune thyroiditis using NOD.H-2h4 mice (n=40) induced with 0.05% NaI for 8 weeks, followed by 8-week treatment intervention. Transcriptome sequencing identified 767 differentially expressed genes in the model group versus controls, and 882 genes altered by BZYQD treatment, primarily enriched in Toll-like receptor pathways. BZYQD at clinical equivalent dosing (9.56 g/kg) significantly reduced thyroid lymphocytic infiltration, decreased serum TGAb levels, and down-regulated TLR8, JUN, TICAM2, TIRAP, and IL-1β mRNA expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Clinical implications suggest BZYQD ameliorates AIT-associated inflammation through inhibition of TLR pathway activation, providing molecular evidence for its immunomodulatory effects. This supports integrating BZYQD in treatment protocols for autoimmune thyroiditis, particularly for patients presenting with elevated inflammatory markers and autoantibody titers. The study validates traditional TCM applications with modern genomic analysis.