Busuishengxue ranules mediate their effects upon non-severe aplastic anemia via mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Busuishengxue granules on non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA) and investigate its effect on the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway.MethodsSixty NSAA patients were divided equally into two groups. Subjects in the experimental group were treated with Busuishengxue granules, and the control group with Zaizaoshengxue tablets. The treatment course was 6 months and curative efficacy was compared between the two groups as well as with 10 healthy individuals. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the intracellular concentration of Ca2 + ([Ca2 +]i). Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of enzymes in the MAPK/ERK pathway.ResultsThe efficacy of Busuishengxue granules was significantly better than that of Zaizaoshengxue tablets (P<0.05). Before treatment, expression of JNK, phospho-ERK 1/2 and p-JNK was higher, and [Ca2 +]i higher, than that of the control group (P< 0.05). After treatment with Busuishengxue granules, expression of all enzymes related to signal transduction pathways in the blood cells of NSSA patients were altered to different degrees.ConclusionBusuishengxue granules had a better effect with regard to improving symptom scores, increasing the number of blood leukocytes, and increasing hemoglobin levels than Zaizaoshengxue tablets, and they differed slightly in terms of increasing the number of platelets.