[Effects of bushen tongdu decoction on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor beta1, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) with the occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and the effects of Bushen Tongdu Decoction (BTD) on serum TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1, levels in patients.

Methods: Seventy five AS patients were assigned to two groups, 30 in the group I treated with Azulfidine and35 in the group II treated with BTD. ELISA was adopted to detect the levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1, in patients before and after 24-week treatment. Meantime, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured as well. Besides, the levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in 30 healthy persons were also detected for normal control.

Results: Before treatment, as compared with normal control, the TNF-alpha increased and TGF-beta1 decreased (P < 0.01) in the two treatment groups; the serum level of TNF-alpha was positively correlated with ESR and CRP (r = 0.296, r = 0.249; P < 0.05), but the serum level of TGF-beta1 showed no correlation with them (r = -0.222, r = -0.203; P > 0.05). After treatment, TGF-beta1 increased, while TNF-alpha, CRP and ESR decreased in group II (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: BTD can regulate TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 levels to suppress the immune inflammatory reaction so as to treat AS.