The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11): 1618-1626.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.11.003

• Basic Research • Previous Articles    

The effects and mechanism of total flavonoids of Sarcandra glabra in modulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes to promote megakaryocyte differentiation

Huizhen LIU1,Xiaonan LU2,Ge LIU1,Guanqing CAI1,Pingan LI1,Yingjian ZENG,Guangbin SHANG1()   

  1. *.Research Center for Differentiation and Development of Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine,Nanchang 330004,Jiangxi,China
  • Received:2025-03-12 Online:2025-06-10 Published:2025-06-19
  • Contact: Guangbin SHANG E-mail:shanggb107@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of total flavonoids of sarcandra glabra (TFFSG) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and their derived exosomes in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), with a focus on promoting megakaryocyte differentiation and maturation. Methods BMSCs induced by rabbit anti?rat platelet serum (APS) were divided into five groups: a blank control group, an ITP?BMSCs model group, and three TFFSG intervention groups with low (1.95 μg/mL), medium (3.90 μg/mL), and high doses (7.80 μg/mL). The apoptosis rates and the expression levels of apoptosis?related proteins?B?cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl?2), Bcl?2?associated X protein (BAX), and Cysteinyl aspartate?specific proteinase?3 (Caspase?3)?were assessed. Exosomes were isolated from the blank control group (NC?BMSCs?Exos), the ITP?BMSCs model group (ITP?BMSCs?Exos), and the medium?dose TFFSG group (TFFSG?BMSCs?Exos). Each group's exosomes (5 μg/mL) were co?cultured with megakaryocytic lineage Dami cells for 96 hours. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate the expression of megakaryocytic differentiation markers (CD41a, CD42b, CD61) and the proportion of polyploid cells (≥ 4 N) in each group. Western Blot analysis was conducted to examine the expression of p?MEK1/2, MEK1/2, p?ERK1/2, and ERK1/2 across all groups. Results Compared with the ITP?BMSCs model group, the apoptosis rates in all TFFSG intervention groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). In the medium? and high?dose TFFSG groups, BAX and Caspase?3 expression levels were markedly downregulated, whereas Bcl?2 expression was upregulated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the ITP?BMSCs?Exos group, the TFFSG?BMSCs?Exos group demonstrated increased expression of CD41a+, CD42b+, and CD61+, a higher proportion of polyploid cells (≥ 4 N) (P < 0.05), as well as elevated ratios of p?MEK1/2 to MEK1/2 and p?ERK1/2 to ERK1/2(P < 0.05). Conclusion TFFSG inhibits apoptosis of ITP?state BMSCs in vitro and promotes megakaryocyte differentiation and polyploidization maturation through BMSC?derived exosomes by activating the MEK1/2?ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Key words: immune thrombocytopenia, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, total flavonoids of Sarcandra glabra

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