Ozonated autohemotherapy modulates the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in gouty patients

Abstract

Lian-Yun Li,1,2 Ruo-Lan Ma,3 Liqin Du,4 An-Shi Wu5 1Department of Anesthesiology, Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2Department of Pain, Beijing Electric Power Hospital, 3Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA; 5Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China Objectives: Ozonated autohemotherapy (O3-AHT) has been used to effectively treat gout, but the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, as an initial effort to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of O3-AHT, we aim to examine the effect of O3-AHT on serum inflammatory cytokine levels in gouty patients. Patients and methods: Three groups of patients and healthy subjects were recruited, including the gouty (n=10), hyperuricemia (n=10), and healthy control (n=11) groups. Cytometric bead array was applied to examine 12 cytokines before (T0), during (T1), and after (T2) therapies. Results: Three cytokines, IL-8, IL-12, and MCP-1, were detectable in all participants. Before O3-AHT, the average serum levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 were higher in the gout group than in the hyperuricemia and healthy control groups, confirming the inflammation status in gouty patients. After the 5th course of O3-AHT (T1), IL-8 level was significantly increased compared to that at T0. IL-12 level was also raised at T1, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. After completing the therapy, both IL-8 and IL-12 levels decreased to levels lower than those at T0. MCP-1 level remained essentially unchanged during and after treatment. Conclusion: Our results indicate that O3-AHT induces a significant change in serum cytokine levels, suggesting that modulating the inflammatory process is one of the therapeutic mechanisms underlying O3-AHT. In addition, the sensitive response of serum IL-8 and IL-12 levels to O3-AHT suggests that these cytokines may be developed as biomarkers to evaluate the therapeutic effect of O3-AHT in gouty patients. Keywords: gout, ozonated autohemotherapy, inflammation, cytokine

Keywords

• Gout
• Ozonated autohemotherapy
• Inflammation
• Cytokine