[Effect of Xinfeng Capsule on Related Factors of Thrombus Formation and Inflammatory Cytokines in Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients].

Objective To observe the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on related factors of thrombus formation and inflammatory cytokines in active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Methods Seventy-six active AS patients were assigned to the XFC group and the Sulfasalazine treated group (SASP group) , 38 in each group according to random digits table. Patients in the SASP group took SASP, 0. 25 g per tablet, 4 tablets each time, twice per day. Those in the XFC group took XFC, 0. 5 g per pill, 3 pills each time, three times per day. All medication lasted for 12 successive weeks. Platelet count and coagulation functions were determined. Factors of thrombus formation [including thromboxane B2(TXB2), prostaglan- din 1₂ (PG1₂), 6-ketone-prostaglandin F1 (6-keto-PGF1) , platelet granular membrane protein140 (GMP140), plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2 ) ], erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP) , and levels of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17) were detected. mRNA expressions of nuclear factor activator (Act1) , NF-κB inhibitory protein-alpha (IKBα) , inhibitor of kappa-B kinase beta (IKKβ) , NF-κB protein 65 (NF-κB/P65), and NF-κB protein 50 (NF-κB/P50) were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, the protein expression of NF-κB/P65 and NF-κB/P50 were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with before treatment in the same group, levels of PLT, fibrinogen (FBG), D-dimer (DD), TXB₂, GMP140, and PAI-2 were significantly decreased, but 6-keto-PGF1 level was significantly increased in XFC group after treatment (P <0. 01). Besides, the improvement of above indices was significantly superior in the XFC group to SASP group in the same period (all P <0. 01). Compared with before treatment and SASP group after treatment, IL-17 level was significantly decreased, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased, levels of ESR and CRP decreased in the XFC group after treatment (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, mRNA expressions of Act1, IKKβ, IKBα, NF- κB/P50, and NF-κB/P65, and protein expressions of NF-κB/P65 and NF-κB/P50 were obviously reduced in the two groups after treatment (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Besides, mRNA expressions of lKKβ, IKBα, NF-κB/ P50, and NF-κB/P65, and protein expressions of NF-κB/P65 and NF-κB/P50 were more obviously reduced in the XFC group than in the SASP group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Conclusions XFC could improve thrombosis re- lated factors in AS patients. Its mechanism might be associated with regulating cytokines and inhibiting ex- cessive activation of NF-κB signal pathway.