Chinese Medicine in Regulating Immune Balance for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

The normal immune system maintains a dynamic equilibrium of immune regulation. When natural immune tolerance is disrupted, aberrant immune activation occurs, which leads to tissue damage and the onset of autoimmune diseases (AIDs). Pathological damage in AIDs stems from abnormal immune responses triggered by a systemic imbalance, and modern medicine has yet to find a definitive cure. The advantages of Chinese medicine (CM), which targets the fundamental pathogenesis of “immune imbalance” by regulating immune homeostasis and restoring a healthy Yin-Yang equilibrium state, are increasingly being demonstrated. CM promotes immune balance by modulating CD4[Formula: see text] T cell subset imbalances, dysfunctional immune cells (e.g., B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages), and their associated cytokines and transcription factors. Although CM shows therapeutic potential for AIDs via immune homeostasis modulation, comprehensive reviews analyzing this approach through the lens of AIDs’ shared mechanism — immune imbalance — remain scarce. Thus, this paper first elucidates immune imbalance in AIDs from the perspectives of immune cells, cytokines, and transcription factors. Then, leveraging CM’s strengths in immune regulation, we systematically review current research on bioactive components extracted from Chinese herbs, such as Paeoniflorin-6′-O-benzene sulfonate (from Paeonia lactiflora) and Artesunate (from Artemisia annua), as well as herbal formulas like Zengye Runzao decoction and Er Miao San, to focus on their immunomodulatory effects in AIDs treatment. This synthesis provides valuable insights into the scientific rationale of CM for restoring immune balance in the treatment of AIDs.