The protective effects of ambroxol on radiation lung injury and influence on production of transforming growth factor beta1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.
The aim of this article was to investigate the effect of ambroxol on radiation lung injury and the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma. Totally, 120 patients with locally advanced lung cancer in radiotherapy were randomized into treatment and control groups. Patients in the treatment group took ambroxol orally at a dosage of 90 mg, three times per day for 3 months from the beginning of radiotherapy. The expression of TGF-beta(1) and TNF-alpha in plasma was analyzed. The clinical symptoms and lung diffusing capacity were monitored using high resolving power computed tomography. The level of TGF-beta(1) in the control group was increased (11.8 +/- 5.5 ng/ml), whereas in ambroxol-treated patients, the increase was not significant (5.6 +/- 2.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Radiotherapy-induced elevation of TNF-alpha levels, seen in control patients, was also abolished after treatment with ambroxol (5.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, P < 0.001). In the treatment group, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity was not significantly decreased at 6, 12, and 18 months post-radiotherapy, compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Ambroxol decreased the expression of TGF-beta(1) and TNF-alpha, and minimized the diminishment of lung diffusion capacity after radiotherapy.
Xia
De-Hong
DH
Jiangyin Hospital of Medical College, Southeast University, 214400, Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. xiadeh@yahoo.com.cn
Xi
Lei
L
Xv
Chen
C
Mao
Wei-Dong
WD
Shen
Wei-Sheng
WS
Shu
Zhong-Qin
ZQ
Yang
Hong-Zhi
HZ
Dai
Min
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000551:Ambroxol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000551:Ambroxol; D002248:Carbon Monoxide