title: Modulation of Endothelial Injury Biomarkers by Traditional Chinese Medicine LC in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Receiving Standard Treatments.
abstract: LC is an herbal remedy effectively reduced therapeutic dosage of glucocorticoid for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in clinical trial (ISRCTN81818883). This translational research examined the impact of LC on biomarkers of endothelial injury in the enrolled subjects. Fifty seven patients with SLE were randomized to receive standard treatment without or with LC supplements. Blood samples were taken serially for quantification of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and serological factors. The proportion of EPCs in the placebo group continued to increase during trial and was further elevated after withdrawal of standard treatment. The EPC ratio of LC group remained stationary during the entire observation period. The CEC ratio in placebo group exhibited an increasing trend whereas that in LC group declined. The ratio of apoptotic CECs had an increasing trend in both groups, to a lesser extent in LC group. After treatment, the levels of VEGF and IL-18 have a trend declined to a level lower in the LC group than the placebo group. No significant alteration was noted in serum levels of IFN-α, IL-1β and IL-6. The reduction of the steroid dosage by adding LC might be correlated with less extensive endothelial injury in SLE patients.
authors: Research Center for Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Hen-Hong
authors: HH
authors: Chang
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Shue-Fen
authors: SF
authors: Luo
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors: Yin-Tzu
authors: YT
authors: Hsue
authors: Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Mao
authors: CM
authors: Chang
authors: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Tzung-Yan
authors: TY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Medical Research, China Medial University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Chuen
authors: YC
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ming-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Jen
authors: YJ
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D015990:Placebo Effect; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020382:Interleukin-18; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A