Effect of the Jianpi Bushen Prescription on the expression of SHP-1, Wnt3a, and AP-1 proteins in chemically damaged mice

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This study investigated the effect of the Jianpi Bushen Prescription (JBP) on the expression of 3 major proteins in chemically damaged model mice. The 3 proteins were the Wnt3a, the SHP-1, and the transcription factors (NF-E2, c-jun, and c-fos) of the AP-1 protein family. Kunming mice were randomly divided into chemically damaged group (N = 48), which received an abdominal injection of (100 mg/kg) cyclophosphamide once a day for 3 consecutive days, and control group (N = 12), which received the same amount of saline. Then, the chemically damaged mice were randomly divided into chemically damaged model group (N = 12), which received 0.2 mL/10 g of saline twice a day for 9 days, positive control group (N = 12), which received 0.2 mL/10 g of the e-jiao slurry (EJS) compound twice a day for 9 days, low dose JBP group (N = 12), which received 0.1 g/kg suspension JBP (100% concentration) twice a day for 9 days and high dose JBP group (N = 12), which received 0.1 g/kg suspension JBP (200% concentration) twice a day for 9 days. The bilateral femur and tibia bone marrow were collected from the mice in all groups. The protein expression of the specified proteins and transcription factors in the bone marrow mononuclear cells were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that the protein expression of Wnt3a was significantly downregulated in the chemically damaged model group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The low dose JBP, high dose JBP, and e-jiao slurry treatments significantly upregulated the protein expression of Wnt3a compared to the chemically damaged model group (P < 0.05), with the low dose JBP producing the best results. Compared to the control group, the protein expressions of SHP-1, c-fos, c-jun, and NF-E2 were significantly higher in the chemically damaged model group (all P < 0.05). The protein expressions of SHP-1, c-fos, c-jun, and NF-E2 were significantly lower in the chemically damaged model + the low dose JBP, chemically damaged model + high dose JBP, or chemically damaged model + EJS group compared to chemically damaged model (all P < 0.05), with the low dose JBP producing the best results. These results indicate that JBP regulates the expressions of SHP-1, Wnt3a, and AP-1 proteins in chemically damaged mice.