Objective:To examine the change of serum tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α)

nitric oxide (NO) in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF) in vitro and the effect of valsartan on TNF-α production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)

and to assess the mechanisms of valsartan in treating CHF.Methods:Venous blood sumples were obtained from both CHF patients (n=12) and healthy volunteers(n=8).Serum TNF-α and NO were measured.PBMC was obtained from both the control and the patient groups.PBMC were cultured with 0

0.01

0.1

1 μmol/L of valsartan in the presence of lipopolysaccharide.After 24 hours’ incubation

TNF-α and NO were measured in the culture supernatants.Results:Serum TNF-α and NO were significantly higher than these of the control group(P<0.01)

and the higher the heart failure degree

the higher the levels of the cytokines(P<0.01).Valsartan inhibited TNF-α and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion:TNF-α plays an important role in the development of CHF.The fact that valsartan inhibits TNF-α production in PBMC may be one of mechanisms in treating CHF by ARB.