Changes Of The Expression Of Serum MMP-3 And IL-6 In Ankylosing Spondylitis During Treatment With Multi-glycoside Of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook. F.

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of serum matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-3 and interleukin(IL-6 level in different times treating ankylosing spondylitis(AS) with multi-glycosideofTripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (GTW) and to explore their meaning in diseases activity and possible link to therapy response.MethodsPeripheral bloods of 0,2,6,12 weeks were collected from 22 patients with AS who received GTW. Serum MMP-3 level and IL-6 level were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Further respectively analyze the relationship among MMP-3, IL-6, ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and so on.Results1. The MMP-3 level decreased statistically after 12 weeks GTW treatment with 0 week(P<0.01). The level of MMP-3 showed correlation with BASDAI, BASFI, ESR at 0 week or 12 weeks and no correlation with other indexes.2. The IL-6 level decreased statistically at 6 weeks or 12 weeks after GTW treatment compared with 0 week(P<0.01), but no variability between them. The level of IL-6 showed correlation with spinal inflammation and ESR at 0 week or 12 weeks and with BASDAI at 12 weeks, and no correlation with other indexes.Conclusion1. The therapy of GTW can effectively cut down the serum MMP-3 level and IL-6 level in AS patients. This is likely to be a relevant mechanism for the clinical efficacy of GTW therapy.2. Serum MMP-3 and IL-6 level could be used as potential biomarkers to evaluate disease progression and disease activity.in AS patients of GTW treatment..