[Effects of oxymatrine on serum cytokines and hepatic fibrotic indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of oxymatrine on serum cytokines and hepatic fibrotic indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).


METHODS
Eighty-two CHB patients were randomly assigned to the control group treated with Western routine therapy and the treated group treated by Western routine therapy plus oxymatrine. The treatment course was 24 weeks. Another group with 20 healthy subjects was set as the normal control group. The serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), hyaline acid (HA), collagen type IV (C-IV) and laminin (LN) were measured by ELISA and RIA before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The serum levels of TGF-beta1, IL-6, HA, C-IV and LN in CHB patients were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01). After 24-week treatment with oxymatrine, these abnormal indexes in the treated group were significantly lowered, as compared with those before treatment and in the control group, the differences were significant (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxymatrine could lower the levels of cytokines, including TGF-beta1, IL-6, etc. in patients with CHB, which might be one of the mechanisms of its action in reversing liver fibrosis.
Shen
Bao-Sheng
BS
Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College, Henan. sbs650222@163.com
Song
Xin-Wen
XW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093842:Matrines
D000470:Alkaloids; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011807:Quinolizines; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C037573:oxymatrine; D000093842:Matrines