Objective:

2

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

Methods:

2

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:

2

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:

2

PDS-C possesses dual activities

promoting proliferation hematopoietic progenitor cells and modulating T lymphocyte immune functions in the treatment of AA model mice.