OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huatan Tongluo Granule (HTG) on the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) of phlegm-wind-stasis obstruction (PWSO) syndrome type.

METHODSSixty-six ACI patients of PWSO type admitted within 72 h were randomized into the treatment group (34 cases) and the control group (32 cases), they were treated with foundational therapeutics, but HTG was given additionally to patients in the treatment group. SOCS-3 expression was detected by ELISA before treatment (d0) and on the 3rd (d3) and 7th day (d7) of treatment; TNF-alpha expression was detected by chemiluminescence at dO and d7. Data were compared with the respective parameters obtained from 20 healthy persons as normal control. Meantime, the degree of neuro-deficit in the two groups was evaluated by NIH Stroke scale and Barthel index on d0, d7, d14 and d21.

RESULTSSOCS-3 expression at d0, d3, d7; and TNF-alpha expression at d0, d7 were higher in the two patients' groups significantly than in normal controls (P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, on d7, SOCS-3 expression was higher (360.98 +/- 123.31 ng/L vs. 281.87 +/- 133.66 ng/L) and TNF-alpha expression was lower (35.72 +/- 19.94 ng/L vs. 49.86 +/- 34.79 ng/L), while the NIHSS score on d7 and d14, as well as the Barthel index on d14 and d21 were lower in the treatment group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe acting mechanism of HTG for promoting nerve function recovery of ACI patients is possibly and closely related with the up-regulation of the inflammation suppressive factor SOCS-3, the down-regulation of the inflammation promoting factor TNF-alpha, and the elimination of secondary inflammatory injury after cerebral ischemia.