Effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on AST, ALT, and serum levels of Th1 cytokines in patients with allo-HSCT

•Protective effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on liver AST and ALT•Effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on fever and hematopoietic reconstitution•Effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on Th1 cytokine levels•Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate may regulate graft versus host disease.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MGL) on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum levels of T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The study included 42 patients prepared for allo-HSCT, who were divided equally into MGL and reduced glutathione groups. The ALT and AST levels were detected 1 day before pretreatment and transplantation, and 7, 14, and 21 days after transplantation. The total days and times of fever, treatment time of patients in the laminar flow room, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PTL) implantation time, and success rate of transplantation were recorded. The serum levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines were detected. MGL had a significant protective effect on AST 1 day before transplantation and 7, 14, and 21 days after transplantation, while ALT had a statistical difference only 7 days after transplantation. MGL could shorten the duration of fever during transplantation and advance the WBC and PTL implantation time. Significant differences in Th1-like cytokines (P < 0.05) and higher levels of Th2-like cytokines but with no statistical significance (P > 0.05) were found in the MGL group compared with the control group. MGL had significant protective effects on AST after transplantation. MGL could reduce the duration of fever during transplantation, help the reconstruction and recovery of WBCs and PTLs, and regulate Th1 cytokines, revealing its protective effects on hepatic transaminases and graft versus host disease in allo-HSCT patients.