The effects of panaxadiol saponins on megakaryocytic maturation and immune function in a mouse model of immune thrombocytopenia

• Published in: Experimental hematology 2015-05, Vol.43 (5), p.364-373
• Main Authors: Lin, Xiaojie, Yin, Liming, Gao, Ruilan, Liu, Qinghua, Xu, Weihong, Jiang, Xingmai, Chong, Beng Hock
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - immunology; Female; Ginsenosides - pharmacology; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Megakaryocytes - drug effects; Megakaryocytes - immunology; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Phagocytosis - immunology; Platelet Count; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - blood; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - drug therapy; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic - immunology; Saponins - pharmacology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0301-472X; 1873-2399
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2014.12.008

We have identified a biologically active component, panaxadiol saponins component (PDS-C), from Chinese ginseng herb extract. Panaxadiol saponins component contains five ginsenoside monomers with total purity of 92.44%. In this study, the BALB/c mouse model with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) was established by injection of antiplatelet antibody every other day for 5 total times; the peripheral blood platelet counts steadily decreased to 20%–30% of normal levels and remained decreased for about 10 days. The antiplatelet antibody was derived from the sera of guinea pigs immunized with the platelets of BALB/c mice. Mice with ITP were treated with PDS-C at a low, a moderate, or a high dose for 10 consecutive days. We observed that the peripheral blood platelet counts of ITP mice were significantly higher than that of ITP controls (untreated) after treatment of PDS-C in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with PDS-C also increased the mature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow of treated ITP animals with a concomitant decease of immature megakaryocyte precursors. Furthermore, macrophage phagocytosis of exogenous erythrocytes in the intra-abdominal cavity of ITP mice was inhibited by PDS-C treatment, indicating that PDS-C also could modulate immune function and may possibly prevent phagocytosis of antibody-coated platelets. Altogether, our findings suggest that PDS-C may have a dual role, promoting proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes, as well as modulating immune function, and it may therefore be very helpful in the treatment of ITP.