Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shisiwei Jianzhong decoction (, SJD) on non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA). METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from bone marrow samples of 15 NSAA patients and 3 healthy controls. Cells were treated with gradient concentrations of SJD, and a portion was transfected with a vector overexpressing the nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 4 (NFATC4). Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. After adipogenic differentiation induction, lipid droplet formation in BMSCs was examined by Oil Red O staining. The expression of NFATC4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC-1α), and acetylated PGC-1α was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. RESULTS: SJD significantly increased the viability and decreased the apoptosis of NSAA-derived BMSCs. It also dose-dependently inhibited lipid droplet formation and decreased the expression of PPARG and FABP4 in NSAA-derived BMSCs. NFATC4 expression was higher in patients with NSAA than in healthy controls, and SJD downregulated its expression. NFATC4 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of SJD on adipogenic differentiation. Additionally, SJD promoted the deacetylation of PGC-1α in NSAA-derived BMSCs, which was also partially eliminated by NFATC4 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: SJD inhibits adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs through downregulating NFATC4, thereby contributing to the remission of NSAA.