Volume 44, Issue 3, December 2008, Pages 392–396
Abstract
Dzherelo
(Immunoxel) and Anemin when combined with standard anti-tuberculosis
therapy (ATT) were shown to produce better clinical outcome than
chemotherapy alone. Sixty HIV-positive patients with active pulmonary TB
were equally divided into three matched groups to receive either ATT,
ATT + Dzherelo, or ATT + Dzherelo + Anemin. Peripheral blood samples
were measured by ELISA for plasma levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ,
and IFN-α. After 6 months of follow-up Dzherelo and Dzherelo + Anemin
combinations produced 61% (P = 0.005) and 44.4% (P = 0.06) higher levels of IL-2, whereas in ATT group they were reduced by 33.1% (P = 0.002). The levels of IL-6 increased by 17% (P = 0.15) in ATT group, but declined in both immune intervention groups by 26.2% (P = 0.007) and 21.3% (P = 0.22). TNF-α was suppressed in two immunotherapy groups by 19.1% (P = 0.06) and 76.3% (P = 0.02), respectively, but had risen by 14% (P = 0.42)
in ATT patients. The pattern of production of IFN-γ was opposite to
that of TNF-α, but statistical significance was stronger in patients
receiving ATT and Dzherelo + Anemin than in Dzherelo group: −34% (P = 0.004), +31.9% (P = 0.008), and +17.3% (P = 0.33),
respectively. Moderately decreased levels of IFN-α were observed in all
treatment arms (range 0.9–16.6%) but differences were not significant.
Despite considerable intra-group variation in cytokine production, the
baseline inter-group averages were not statistically different
indicating that the results were not biased by sample heterogeneity.
Immunomodulators used in this study possibly act by enhancing natural
immune response against TB. Expanded study of other cytokines and
correlates relevant to control and protection from TB and HIV is needed
in order to identify biomarkers of favorable treatment outcome, which
may aid design of better immune interventions and vaccines.
Keywords
- AIDS;
- Botanical;
- Herbal;
- Immunotherapy;
- XDR
Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
