Effects of Fuzheng Paidu Tablet on Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Neopterin of Thirty-two Asymptomatic HIV Carriers

Objective To explore the effects of Fuzheng Paidu Tablet(FPT) on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and neopterin(NPI) in patients with asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) carriers.Methods Using flow cytometry detection technology,CD+4T lymphocyte in anticoagulant blood sample of 32 asymptomatic HIV infection patients who were taking FPT for 6 months was detected and compared with before treatment.The serum levels of TNF-α and NPI were determined using ELISA method and compared with 22 healthy volunteers.Results After 6 months of treatment by FPT,the CD+4 T lympocyte of asymptomatic HIV carriers increased from(368.63±111.54)/mm3 to(412.72±159.63)/mm3.Before treatment the serum levels of TNF-α [(20.05±13.08) nmol/L] and NPI [(9.55±2.52) nmol/L] were obviously higher than those of the healthy volunteers [(12.20±4.07) nmol/L and(5.91±1.43) nmol/L](P0.05).After 6 months of treatment by FPT,they were lower after treatment than before treatment(P0.05).But there was no statistical difference in the serum TNF-α level [(11.06±4.71) nmol/L] when compared with the healthy volunteers group(P0.05).But the serum NPI level [(8.08±2.13) nmol/L] was still higher than that of the healthy volunteers group(P0.05).Conclusions One of the pathological factors for asymptomatic HIV infection is abnormal immune activation represented by increased serum levels of TNF-α and NPI.FPT could lower the serum levels of TNF-α and NPI in asymptomatic HIV infection patients,which was one of its possible mechanisms for its efficacy.