Insights & Discussion
The Chinese herbal formula Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen can enhance the immune system, treat anemia, and regulate erythropoietin and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression.
In the study, the Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen (JPYS) herbal extracts were applied onto cultured cells for 24 to 48 hours. Total RNA was collected from these treated cells for real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Additionally, the standardized herbal extracts were treated with transfected HEK293T cells which were composed of a hypoxia response element tagged with a luciferase gene.
In one experiment, the treatment of JPYS extracts onto the cultured cells induced erythropoietin expression in a dose-dependent manner, showing a prominent increase. In another experiment, after the application of JPYS extract for 24 hours, the expressions of interleukin and tumor necrosis factor in cultured macrophages were stimulated. However, when the macrophages were pre-treated with the JPYS extract, the expression of the same cytokines was suppressed in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages.
So, apart from supporting the hematopoietic function by regulating erythropoietin expression, this study demonstrated that the Chinese herbal formula, Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen, also plays a crucial role in immune-modulation, specifically in regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in culture.
Discover Related Insights
Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen, a traditional Chinese medicine, helps treat anemia in chronic kidney disease by stimulating erythropoietin production and regulating iron recycling.
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen Regulates EPO and Iron Recycling Protein Expressions in Anemic Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease: Accumulation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-2α via ERK Signaling Wang F, Yu H, Huang S, Zheng L, Zheng P, Zhang S, et al.
Animal Study Anaemia Chronic Kidney Disease Erythropoietin
To investigate the effect of Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen (JPYS), chronic kidney disease (CKD) was experimentally induced in rats using a 5/6 nephrectomy. The rats were then administered JPYS orally in both high and low doses for a period of 90 days. Observations were made regarding the serum hepcidin level to assess iron homeostasis. Additionally, the protein expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-2, erythropoietin, ferritin, ferroportin, and the phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 were studied using Western blot analysis.
The results showed that JPYS treatment significantly improved kidney function in the CKD rats. Alongside this, pathological kidney damage was found to be significantly restored post-JPYS treatment. The medicine was found to be effective in improving anemia in CKD through the upregulation of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. It was also discovered that JPYS stimulates the expressions of erythropoietin and hypoxia-inducible factor-2 proteins in the kidney and liver of the CKD rats, while inducing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 proteins. Furthermore, JPYS was seen to regulate the protein expressions of ferritin and ferroportin in the liver and spleen, as well as in the serum level of hepcidin, suggesting its role in systemic iron recycling.