Research Progress on Lymphocyte Regulation by Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands. Lymphocytes, as core components of the immune system primarily comprising T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SS through abnormal activation, dysregulated subset ratios, and functional disorders. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a treasure passed down for millennia, offers unique advantages in treating SS through holistic regulation and syndrome differentiation-based treatment. It effectively improves clinical symptoms by modulating lymphocyte function via multiple targets and pathways. Multiple studies indicate that active components in Chinese herbal medicines—such as glycosides, steroidal compounds, and polysaccharides—along with formulas like Zengye Decoction, Banxia Qinlian Decoction, and Yupingfeng Powder, can regulate lymphocyte subset balance, suppress excessive lymphocyte activation and proliferation, modulate cytokine networks, and activate relevant signaling pathways. These mechanisms ultimately mitigate glandular damage and promote the restoration of immune homeostasis. This paper systematically reviews literature on TCM's treatment of Sjögren's syndrome through lymphocyte regulation, providing theoretical support for integrated Chinese-Western medicine approaches to immune modulation and offering references for optimizing clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.