ISSN:
1573-2568
Keywords:
ursodeoxycholic acid
;
primary biliary cirrhosis
;
natural killer activity
;
immunomodulation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We evaluated the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on the defective natural killer activity in primary biliary cirrhosis. Administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (600 mg daily) for one month significantly increased natural killer activity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (P〈0.05). Ursodeoxycholic acid also enhanced thein vitro natural killer activity of lymphocytes from healthy volunteers, while other hydrophobic bile acids depressed it. Furthermore, ursodeoxycholic acid reduced the prostaglandin E2 concentration in culture supernatants of lymphocytes from healthy volunteers to a lower level than that in cultures incubated with chenodeoxycholic acid (P〈0.05) or control cultures (P〈0.01). Ursodeoxycholic acid normalized the defective natural killer activity in primary biliary cirrhosis by reducing the levels of other hydrophobic bile acids and inhibiting prostaglandin E2 production, suggesting that it may be a useful immunomodulating agent for primary biliary cirrhosis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02088577
