Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41246353›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in immunology2025

Immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of Qi-Xu-Tiao-Ti formula in Qi-deficiency constitution: a randomized controlled trial integrated with multi-omics and network pharmacology analysis.

Renyun Cui, Ming Fan, Chengzhi Yang, Cheng Chen, Jinlu Xia, Xi Liu, Guohui Zhang, Fangli Li

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Renyun CuiShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Ming FanShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Chengzhi YangDongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Cheng ChenCorporate Culture Department, China State Construction International Holdings Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Jinlu XiaShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Xi LiuShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Guohui ZhangShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Fangli LiShenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The Qi-deficiency constitution (QDC) is a body constitution type characterized by weakened immune function and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that Chinese herbal medicine can effectively improve immunological competence in individuals with QDC. This study aims to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of the Qi-Xu-Tiao-Ti Formula (QXTTF) in alleviating QDC and elucidate its underlying pharmacological mechanisms through transcriptome sequencing and network pharmacology approaches. Methods: This single-center randomized controlled trial was performed using QXTTF to treat the QDC subjects, with Balanced constitution (BC) as the healthy controls. Primary outcome measures focused on traditional Chinese medicine constitution assessment of QDC scores, with secondary evaluation parameters including immune biomarkers (IgA and IgG levels) and adverse events monitoring. To investigate the molecular mechanisms, we performed transcriptomic profiling to identify QXTTF-responsive gene targets, followed by integrated network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking simulations to characterize the compound-target interactions underlying QXTTF's therapeutic effects, and ultimately validated at the proteomics level. Results: This study recruited 78 participants, comprising 63 QDC and 15 BC individuals. Comparative analysis between QDC and BC groups revealed significant differences in immunoglobulin IgA, IgG levels, and transcriptomic profiles. QXTTF intervention on QDC subjects significantly reduced the QDC scores ( Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that QXTTF potentially mitigates QDC via immunomodulatory mechanisms. with therapeutic targets systematically identified through network pharmacology analysis and subsequently validated by molecular docking and proteomic profiling. These insights are crucial in delineating the pharmacological mechanisms of Chinese herbal formulas that augment the immune function of QDC, thus establishing a scientific basis for the early prevention and management of immune-related diseases. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2200063044.

Indexed as

Drugs, Chinese HerbalQiAdultFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHumansMaleMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMiddle AgedMolecular Docking SimulationMultiomicsNetwork PharmacologyProteomicsTranscriptomeDrugs, Chinese Herbalclinical trialimmune functionnetwork pharmacologyQi-deficiency constitutionQi-Xu-Tiao-Ti formula

Identifiers

PMID41246353
PMCPMC12615400

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.