BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is unknown. The role of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in modifying the cytokine environment in patients with PBC has remained largely unstudied. Our aims were to determine: (i) the relationship between serum levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta and the severity of PBC; and (ii) the effects of UDCA therapy on TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels in patients with PBC. METHODS: We studied 90 patients who had been treated with UDCA (53 patients) orplacebo (37 patients) for 2 years as part of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Patients were divided into histological stage I/II or stage III/IV disease. Serum TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. RESULTS:Baseline levels of TNF-alpha were significantly greater in patients with stage III/IV compared to stage I/II disease. After 2 years of treatment with UDCA, patients showed a significantly greater decrease in TNF-alpha levels and progression risk score compared to placebo-treated patients. TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels were significantly reduced compared to baseline levels in the UDCA-treated group after 2 years, while there was no significant change in the levels of placebo-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Serum TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels may reflect severity of disease in patients with PBC. The beneficial effects of UDCA therapy may be explained by lowering serum levels of these two cytokines.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is unknown. The role of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in modifying the cytokine environment in patients with PBC has remained largely unstudied. Our aims were to determine: (i) the relationship between serum levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta and the severity of PBC; and (ii) the effects of UDCA therapy on TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels in patients with PBC. METHODS: We studied 90 patients who had been treated with UDCA (53 patients) or placebo (37 patients) for 2 years as part of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Patients were divided into histological stage I/II or stage III/IV disease. Serum TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. RESULTS: Baseline levels of TNF-alpha were significantly greater in patients with stage III/IV compared to stage I/II disease. After 2 years of treatment with UDCA, patients showed a significantly greater decrease in TNF-alpha levels and progression risk score compared to placebo-treated patients. TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels were significantly reduced compared to baseline levels in the UDCA-treated group after 2 years, while there was no significant change in the levels of placebo-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Serum TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels may reflect severity of disease in patients with PBC. The beneficial effects of UDCA therapy may be explained by lowering serum levels of these two cytokines.
Authors: Charlotte D'Mello; Kiarash Riazi; Tai Le; Katarzyna M Stevens; Arthur Wang; Derek M McKay; Quentin J Pittman; Mark G Swain Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: Erwin Gäbele; Matthias Froh; Gavin E Arteel; Takehiko Uesugi; Claus Hellerbrand; Jürgen Schölmerich; David A Brenner; Ronald G Thurman; Richard A Rippe Journal: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Date: 2008-11-06 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Kashif Asghar; John Brain; Jeremy M Palmer; Stephen Douglass; Fatmah M A Naemi; Graeme O'Boyle; John Kirby; Simi Ali Journal: Oncol Lett Date: 2017-08-28 Impact factor: 2.967