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 Fox P3 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^+Fox P3^+ cells, downregulated T-bet protein expression, and upregulated GATA-3 and Fox P3 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.

Research and Development of the Effective Components of Panaxdiol Saponin as New Chinese Patent Medicine for Treating Hemocytopenia

Pancytopenia （hemocytopenia） such as primary immune thrombocytopenia （ITP）, aplastic anemia and chronic neutropenia （agnogenic leukocytopenia） were often treated by glucocorticoids, androgen and immunosuppressive agents at present, but the response to these treatments has not been always satisfactory, and may cause serious adverse events. Our research has identified a biological active component in ginseng extract and the active component, panaxadiol saponins component （PDS-C）, was isolated from total saponins of ginsenosides, and formulated into capsules named as Painengda （派能达）. We successfully obtained approval from State Food and Drug Administration （SFDA） of China in 2010 to conduct clinical trials of PDS-C as class-five new Chinese patent medicine. Phase Ⅰand phase Ⅱ clinical trials of PDS-C and Painengda Capsule were carried out in the treatment of ITP and agnogenic leukocytopenia. Thecomposition and content of PDS-C have been analyzed and defined by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry （HPLC-MS） and HPLC using specific monomers of ginsenosides as the reference standards. PDS-C is very efficacious for treating mice and rats with ITP and aplastic anemia, and myelosuppression caused by chemotherapy or radiation. Our animal model studies and cell biology and molecular biology experiments demonstrated that PDS-C possessed dual activities, namely that of promoting proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and that of regulating the immune function. PDS-C and Painengda Capsule as a new Chinese patent medicine have been successfully transferred to industry. We believe that PDS-C is effective and safe in the treatment of refractory hemocytopenia. The advantages are that it is effective in small doses, it is convenient to use because of its oral administration, its lack of adverse events, it could be used alone or in combination with pharmacological agents, which improve the efficacy and decrease adverse events.