Effects of sodium copper chlorophyllin on mesenchymal stem cell function in aplastic anemia mice

Exploring the mechanism by which Angelica sinensis improves haematopoietic function in aplastic anaemia

Angelica sinensis (AS) can improve the haematopoietic function, but the treatment mechanism is unknown. Transfusion dependency was estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional-hazard model in AS treated apalstic anemia (AA) patients. After that, the AA GEO database was analysed, the up differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AA were combined with AS targets for the intersection of targets. After the AA mouse model was established, the effect of AS was confirmed by haematopoietic function tests. The same experiment plus mitochondrial apoptotic pathway tests in vivo were performed in Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP)-treated mice, the key ingredient in AS. For in vitro experiment, bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) were tested. Clinical data confirmed that the level of transfusion dependency and IL17A were lower in AS-users compared to non-AS users (p < 0.001). The intersection of targets between AA and AS most concentrated on inflammation and apoptosis. Then, the same effect was found in AS treated AA mice model. In both in vivo and in vitro tests, ASP demonstrated the ability to mitigate P38/MAPK-induced Bax-associated mitochondrial apoptosis, while also reducing the levels of activated Th17 cells and alleviating abnormal cytokine levels. So, the protective effect of AS and ASP on hematopoietic function lies in their ability to prevent apoptosis.

Unveiling the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha in osteoporosis: Implications for bone health

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis (OP) has become a major public health problem worldwide. Most OP treatments are based on the inhibition of bone resorption, and it is necessary to identify additional treatments aimed at enhancing osteogenesis. In the bone marrow (BM) niche, bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are exposed to a hypoxic environment. Recently, a few studies have demonstrated that hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha (HIF-2α) is involved in BMSC osteogenic differentiation, but the molecular mechanism involved has not been determined.

AIM

To investigate the effect of HIF-2α on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs and the hematopoietic function of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the BM niche on the progression of OP.

METHODS

Mice with BMSC-specific HIF-2α knockout (Prx1-Cre;Hif-2αfl/fl mice) were used for in vivo experiments. Bone quantification was performed on mice of two genotypes with three interventions: Bilateral ovariectomy, semilethal irradiation, and dexamethasone treatment. Moreover, the hematopoietic function of HSCs in the BM niche was compared between the two mouse genotypes. In vitro, the HIF-2α agonist roxadustat and the HIF-2α inhibitor PT2399 were used to investigate the function of HIF-2α in BMSC osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Finally, we investigated the effect of HIF-2α on BMSCs via treatment with the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) agonist MHY1485 and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin.

RESULTS

The quantitative index determined by microcomputed tomography indicated that the femoral bone density of Prx1-Cre;Hif-2αfl/fl mice was lower than that of Hif-2αfl/fl mice under the three intervention conditions. In vitro, Hif-2αfl/fl mouse BMSCs were cultured and treated with the HIF-2α agonist roxadustat, and after 7 d of BMSC adipogenic differentiation, the oil red O staining intensity and mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis-related genes in BMSCs treated with roxadustat were decreased; in addition, after 14 d of osteogenic differentiation, BMSCs treated with roxadustat exhibited increased expression of osteogenesis-related genes. The opposite effects were shown for mouse BMSCs treated with the HIF-2α inhibitor PT2399. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin was used to confirm that HIF-2α regulated BMSC osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation by inhibiting the mTOR pathway. Consequently, there was no significant difference in the hematopoietic function of HSCs between Prx1-Cre;Hif-2αfl/fl and Hif-2αfl/fl mice.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that inhibition of HIF-2α decreases bone mass by inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation and increasing the adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs through inhibition of mTOR signaling in the BM niche.

Network pharmacology and experimental verification of the potential mechanism of Er-Xian decoction in aplastic anemia

To investigate the potential mechanism of Er-Xian decoction (EXD) in treating aplastic anemia (AA), the active components of EXD were screened by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and the targets of the components were predicted by the Swiss Target Prediction database. AA targets were collected from the GeneCards, OMIM, DisGeNET, PharmGKB, DrugBank, and TTD databases, the intersection of AA targets and EXD targets was calculated, and an herb-component-target network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. The STRING database was used for protein‒protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct a PPI network and perform topology analysis. The core targets were imported into the DAVID database for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The molecular docking software AutoDock was used to measure the affinity between active components and key targets. Finally, we established a mouse model of AA and verified the key targets and signaling pathways of EXD by RT‒PCR, ELISA and Western blot analysis. A total of 53 active components were screened from EXD, 2516 AA-related targets were collected, and 195 common targets were obtained. An herb-component-target network and a PPI network were successfully constructed, and 36 core targets were selected from the PPI network. The main active components of EXD include luteolin, kaempferol, berberine, etc., and key targets include PIK3CA, AKT1, STAT3, etc. GO functional enrichment analysis showed that cell components, molecular functions and biological processes with significant correlations were macromolecular complexes, protein serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase activity and protein phosphorylation, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the pathways with significant correlations included the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the tested key targets had good affinity for the corresponding active components. In AA mice, we found that EXD significantly increased white blood cell count, red blood cell count, platelet count and hemoglobin levels, increased mRNA levels of PIK3CA, PIK3CD, AKT1, JAK2, STAT3 and MAPK1, and promoted phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, ERK1/2 and STAT3. In summary, EXD acts on PI3K, AKT, STAT3 and other targets through berberine, luteolin, quercetin and other components to regulate the PI3K-Akt pathway, JAK-STAT pathway and other pathways, thus exerting its therapeutic effect on AA. This study explained the Chinese medicine theory of treating AA with EXD by tonifying kidney-yang and provides a scientific basis for the use of EXD in treating AA.

Relationship between lifespan and somatic mutation in D. melanogaster after treatment with chlorophyllin

Sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) has a genetic damage inhibitory capacity due to its antioxidant action. For this reason, it was considered to investigate its role in the life span of Drosophila melanogaster and its relationship with the frequency of somatic mutation induced by gamma rays. Results indicated that SCC alone prolonged the lifespan only in females, but in combination with 20 Gy of gamma rays, the aging delay in both sexes was significant. In addition to confirming that the porphyrin reduces the frequency of mutation, the individuals with the highest mutation load are the individuals who die more quickly, and once they are eliminated, the survivor individuals treated with 20 Gy or with SCC + 20 Gy, died at the same rate. The results together indicate that SCC not only inhibits induced genetic damage, but it also has beneficial effects that probably cause an aging delay of the treated population that need to be investigated.

Natural Antioxidants in Anemia Treatment

Anemia, characterized by a decrease of the hemoglobin level in the blood and a reduction in carrying capacity of oxygen, is a major public health problem which affects people of all ages. The methods used to treat anemia are blood transfusion and oral administration of iron-based supplements, but these treatments are associated with a number of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain, which limit its long-term use. In addition, oral iron supplements are poorly absorbed in the intestinal tract, due to overexpression of hepcidin, a peptide hormone that plays a central role in iron homeostasis. In this review, we conducted an analysis of the literature on biologically active compounds and plant extracts used in the treatment of various types of anemia. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date information on the use of these compounds and plant extracts, in order to explore their therapeutic potential. The advantage of using them is that they are available from natural resources and can be used as main, alternative, or adjuvant therapies in many diseases, such as various types of anemia.

The effective role of sodium copper chlorophyllin on the dysfunction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in multiple myeloma via regulating TGF-β1

BACKGROUND

The osteoblast differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) is impaired in multiple myeloma (MM). We investigated the effects of sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) on osteoblast differentiation ability of BMSCs from MM.

METHODS

Clinical bone marrow samples were collected. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) was used to identify surface markers of BMSCs. BMSCs were treated with different concentrations of SCC and cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Relative mRNA and protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), SMAD2/3, osteogenic differentiation indicators (RUNX2 and OCN) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was stained for activity detection. Formation of calcium nodus of BMSCs was examined by Alizarin Red S staining.

RESULTS

CD90 and CD105 were high-expressed, but CD34 and CD45 were not expressed in BMSCs. BMSCs in MM group showed a lower expression of TGF-β1 and a lower degree of osteogenic differentiation. SCC enhanced activities of BMSCs, ALP activity, and formation of calcium nodus, activated TGF-β1, SMAD2/3 pathway and increased RUNX2 and OCN expressions in BMSCs. Silencing TGF-β1 reversed the effects of SCC on BMSCs in MM.

CONCLUSION

SCC could effectively improve the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in MM through regulating TGF-β1.

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide prevents mitochondrial apoptosis by regulating the Treg/Th17 ratio in aplastic anemia

Background

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) is an effective medicine for aplastic anemia (AA). The present study aims to investigate whether mitochondrial apoptosis in aplastic anemia could be corrected by ASP by adjusting an abnormal level of regulatory T cell (Treg)/ IL-17 secreting CD4 T cell (Th17) ratio.

Methods

BALB/c mice were treated with 5.0 Gy Co60 γ -radiation. Then 2 × 10⁶ lymph node cells from DBA/2 donor mice were transplanted within 4 h after radiation. The mice in the various groups were fed saline or ASP for 2 weeks. For the in vitro experiment, bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) and Treg cells were sorted from the mice on the 2nd day of modeling, and then cultured with or without ASP.

Results

The mice treated with the medium dose of ASP for 14 days showed increased white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT), BMNC counts and Lin–Sca-1 + c-Kit+ (LSK) populations viability compared with the mice in the AA group mice. The data showed that ASP decreased damage to the mitochondrial outer membrane, improved the stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane, and corrected the abnormal levels of ROS and mitochondrial-associated apoptosis proteins, including the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression, in BMNCs which were sorted from the bone marrow cells of AA mice. The changes to the p-P38/P38 and Treg/Th17 ratios induced by AA were also reversed by the medium dose of ASP. The same ASP effect including the Bcl-2/Bax and p-P38/P38 ratio, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression of BMNCs were observed in vivo. The viability of Treg cells were increased by treatment of ASP in vivo.

Conclusions

ASP might prevent mitochondrial apoptosis to restore the function of hematopoietic stem cells by suppressing abnormal T-cell immunity in AA.

Panaxdiol Saponins Component Promotes Hematopoiesis and Modulates T Lymphocyte Dysregulation in Aplastic Anemia Model Mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential efficacy of panaxadiol saponins component (PDS-C) in the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA) model mice.

METHODS

Totally 70 mice were divided into 7 groups as follows: normal, model, low-, medium-, high-dose PDS-C (20, 40, 80 mg/kg, namely L-, M-, H-PDS-C), cyclosporine (40 mg/kg), and andriol (25 mg/kg) groups, respectively. An immune-mediated AA mouse model was established in BALB/c mice by exposing to 5.0 Gy total body irradiation at 1.0 Gy/min, and injecting with lymphocytes from DBA mice. On day 4 after establishment of AA model, all drugs were intragastrically administered daily for 15 days, respectively, while the mice in the normal and model groups were administered with saline solution. After treatment, the peripheral blood counts, bone marrow pathological examination, colony forming assay of bone marrow culture, T lymphocyte subpopulation analysis, as well as T-bet, GATA-3 and FoxP3 proteins were detected by flow cytometry and Western blot.

RESULTS

The peripheral blood of white blood cell (WBC), platelet, neutrophil counts and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal group (all P<0.01). In response to 3 dose PDS-C treatment, the WBC, platelet, neutrophil counts were significantly increased at a dose-dependent manner compared with the model group (all P<0.01). The myelosuppression status of AA was significantly reduced in M-, H-PDS-C groups, and hematopoietic cell quantity of bone marrow was more abundant than the model group. The colony numbers of myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytic progenitor cells in the model group were less than those of the normal mice in bone marrow culture, while, PDS-C therapy enhanced proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells by significantly increasing colony numbers (all P<0.01). Furthermore, PDS-C therapy increased peripheral blood CD3⁺ and CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells and reduced CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Meanwhile, PDS-C treatment at medium- and high doses groups also increased CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ cells, downregulated T-bet protein expression, and upregulated GATA-3 and FoxP3 protein expressions in spleen cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

PDS-C possesses dual activities, promoting proliferation hematopoietic progenitor cells and modulating T lymphocyte immune functions in the treatment of AA model mice.

Saponins from Panax notoginseng leaves improve the symptoms of aplastic anemia and aberrant immunity in mice

Aplastic anemia (AA) is usually treated with immunosuppressive agents, but their efficacy and safety are not satisfactory. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) promote the proliferation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. This study aimed to examine the effects of leaf PNS (LPNS) on hematopoiesis and T cells in mouse models of AA. The experiments were performed in normal mice and AA mice (controls, cyclosporine, and low, medium, and high doses of LPNS). Hematopoietic cells were counted using colony formation assays. The proportions of T cells were measured by flow cytometry. The ERK1/2, T-bet, GATA-3, FOXP3, and RORγ proteins were assessed by western blotting. Cytokines were measured using a cytometric bead array. AA mice showed impaired hematopoiesis, high activation of T cells, and decreased expression of T-bet, GATA-3, and FOXP3. LPNS attenuated the inflammation observed in AA mice, and significantly increased the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The proportions of Th2 and regulatory T cells and the protein levels of P-ERK1/2, GATA-3, and FOXP3 were increased in the AA + LPNS mice compared with the AA mice. In contrast, LPNS decreased the proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells and the protein expression of T-bet. LPNS and cyclosporine had similar effects, but of different amplitudes. These results suggest that LPNS have dual activities in AA: 1) promoting the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells; and 2) modulating T cell immune functions, an activity similar to that of cyclosporine. Additional studies are necessary to confirm those results before clinical use.

Herbal approach in the treatment of pancytopenia

Pancytopenia is a health condition in which there is a reduction in the amount of leucocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes. If more than one of the blood cells is low then the condition is called as bicytopenia. The pancytopenic condition is observed in treatment of diseased conditions like thalassemia and hepatitis C. Iatrogenically pancytopenia is caused by some antibiotics and anti-HCV drugs. Medical conditions like aplastic anaemia, lymphoma, copper deficiency, and so forth can also cause pancytopenia. Pancytopenia can in turn decrease the immunity of the person and thereby can be fatal. Current therapies for pancytopenia include bone marrow stimulant drugs, blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant. The current therapies are very excruciating and have long-term side-effects. Therefore, treating these condition using herbal drugs is very important. Herbs like wheatgrass, papaya leaves and garlic are effective in treating single lineage cytopenias. The present review is focused on the potential effects of natural herbs for the treatment of pancytopenia.

Clinical study of Shengxuening tablet combined with rHuEPO for the treatment of renal anemia of maintenance hemodialysis patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical effects of Shengxuening tablet (silkworm excrement) combined with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) for the treatment of renal anemia of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Seventy-two MHD patients with renal anemia were included in the study and randomly divided into the control (n=34) and observation (n=38) groups. Patients in the control group were treated by hypodermic injection of 100-150 U/(kg·w) rHuEPO and patients in the observation group were treated by rHuEPO + 1.0 g t.i.d. p.o. Shengxuening tablet. The two groups were assisted by conventional treatments including iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 and L-carnitine. After 3 and 6 months, improvement of anemia was compared. After 3 months, the hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation levels of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). In addition, C-reactive protein and superoxide dismutase levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). After 6 months, indices of the observation group were ameliorated while the improvement of control group was not obvious, and indices of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Consumption of rHuEPO in the observation group was significantly less than that of the control group, and the total effective rate was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, Shengxuening tablet combined with rHuEPO was safe and effective for the treatment of renal anemia of MHD patients.