title: Treatment with unsaponifiable extracts of avocado and soybean increases TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 levels in canine joint fluid.
abstract: Avocado and soya unsaponifiables (ASU) are plant extracts used as a slow-acting antiarthritic agent. ASU stimulate the synthesis of matrix components by chondrocytes, probably by increasing the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). TGF-beta is expressed by chondrocytes and osteoblasts and is present in cartilage matrix. This study investigates the effect of ASU treatment on the levels of two isoforms of TGFbeta, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, in the knee joint fluid using a canine model. Twenty-four outbred dogs were divided into three groups. The control animals were given a normal diet, while the treated animals were given 300 mg ASU every three days or every day. Joint fluid samples were obtained prior to treatment, and at the end of every month (up to three months). TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 levels were measured using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. ASU treatment caused an increase in TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 levels in the joint fluid when compared to controls. The different doses did not cause a significant difference in joint fluid TGF levels. TGF-beta1 levels in the treated animals reached maximum values at the end of the second month and then decreased after the third month, while TGF-beta2 levels showed a marginal increase during the first two months, followed by a marked increase at the end of the third month. In conclusion, ASU increased both TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 levels in knee joint fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. leventaltinel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altinel
authors.forename: Z Kadir
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Saritas
authors.forename: Kamil Cagri
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.forename: Kamuran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pamuk
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serteser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004285:Dogs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism*; D027421:Persea / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2