Analysis of fibronectin, fibronectin receptor and interleukin-1 in patients with cirrhosis treated by the Yanggan Jieyu decoction.

AIM: To investigate the effects of the Yanggan Jieyu (YGJY, nourishing the liver and alleviating mental depression) decoction on the plasma concentrations of fibronectin (FN), fibronectin receptor (FNR), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and the activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Thirty-four cases of decompensated cirrhosis were divided into the YGJY decoction treatment group and the control group (patients received standard treatment). FN, FNR and TNF-α were measured by ELISA and expressed as mg/L (FN, FNR) and ng/L (TNF-α). IL-1 was measured by mice thymocyte proliferation using a ß scintillation counter and was expressed as cpm. RESULTS: In the YGJY decoction treatment group, FN and TNF-α levels increased significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), and FNR and IL-1 levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). In the control group, FN, FNR, TNF-α, and IL-1 levels did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: YGJY decoction could prevent hepatic fibrosis by adjusting the plasma levels of FN, FNR, TNF-α and IL-1, which could mediate cirrhosis formation. This data is of clinical significance.