This article contains findings obtained from research on animals:
- The results from animal research studies should not be directly applied to humans and the results may not generalise to the human population.
- There may be significant differences between species in terms of physiology, physiology, and pharmacology, as well as differences in the way diseases and treatments are modelled in animals.
- Any conclusions drawn from animal research should be considered with caution and in the context of other types of research studies such as observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews of the literature.
Insights & Discussion
Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) efficiently stimulates erythropoietin secretion and suppresses the liver's hepcidin expression, potentially aiding in treatments of hepcidin-induced diseases.
In observing the effects of ASP, a substance derived from a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, the researchers administered the substance daily to rats through intragastric methods for a period of 14 days. Apart from this, a group of positive control rats also received injections of recombinant human erythropoietin. The researchers then monitored the levels of erythropoietin and hepcidin in the serum at various times using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, the researchers used the Western blot method to examine the expression of six key signal proteins in the liver.
The results revealed that ASP notably diminished the liver's expression of hepcidin, a factor known for negatively regulating the body's iron metabolism. This reduction was primarily facilitated through inhibiting the expression of specific liver proteins (STAT3/5 and SMAD4) and stimulating the secretion of erythropoietin. This stimulation led to further down-regulation of hepcidin, a process aided by reducing the liver's expression of other proteins (C/EBPα, SMAD4, and the phosphorylation process of STAT3/5). Hence, the research suggests ASP can effectively suppress hepcidin expression in normal rats.
Discover Related Insights
Angelica Sinensis polysaccharide treatment has been found to effectively alleviate anaemia of chronic disease in rats by inhibiting inflammatory pathways and mobilizing iron.
2017 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Acidic Polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis Reverses Anemia of Chronic Disease Involving the Suppression of Inflammatory Hepcidin and NF-κB Activation Wang K, Wu J, Cheng F, Huang X, Zeng F, Zhang Y
Experimental Study Anaemia Dang Gui Hepcidin
The study utilized both HepG2 cells and rats suffering from Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) to assess the therapeutic efficacy of Polysaccharide. The cells and rats were administered the Polysaccharide, and the researchers observed its impact on two inflammatory pathways: the IL-6/STAT3 and BMP/SMAD.
The Polysaccharide administration showed significant effects, inhibiting inflammatory hepcidin in both the cell sample and the rat population. Furthermore, in the rats, the introduction of the polysaccharide triggered an increase in ferroportin expression, which enabled iron to be transported from the liver and spleen, leading to increased serum iron levels. This also led to an elevation of serum EPO and a general relief from the anemia symptoms. Additionally, the treatment inhibited the NF-B p65 activation via the IB kinases-IB pathway, leading to a reduction in interleukin-6 and TNF- secretion - both of which are known to inhibit erythropoiesis. Hence, the study provides evidence for the potential use of polysaccharide as a treatment option for anemia of chronic disease.