Experimental Study on the Effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules on the Immune System of H₂₂ Tumor-Bearing Mice

Experimental Study on the Effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules on the Immune System of H₂₂ Tumor-Bearing Mice

Huang Bangrong

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Chinese Abstract

Objective: To explore the impact of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules on the immune system of H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice and analyze its mechanism of action, providing a solid theoretical basis for the drug's extensive clinical application and the development of new traditional Chinese medicine formulations effective in preventing and treating tumors.

Methods: Following the method of transplanted tumor experiments in mice, we observed the regulatory effects on immune function and antitumor effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules at high, medium, and low doses in H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice.

Results: Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules at high, medium, and low doses respectively increased the levels of cytokines such as IL-1, IFN-γ, and NO in tumor-bearing mice, with the following measured values:

• IL-1: High-dose group 244.8±27.4 (p<0.05), significantly different from the model group
• IFN-γ: Medium-dose group 112.2±24.3 (p<0.01), high-dose group 121.4±22.6 (p<0.05)
• NO: High-, medium-, and low-dose groups were 58.0±5.87, 57.0±4.72, and 52.3±6.28 respectively (p<0.01), all significantly different from the model group

Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules at high, medium, and low doses respectively enhanced delayed-type allergic reactions in tumor-bearing mice, with the measured values being 12.4±1.7 and 12.1±1.66 for the high- and medium-dose groups (p<0.01); they also enhanced the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages, with measured values of 0.161±0.003 (p<0.01), 0.174±0.002, and 0.129±0.003 (p<0.05), all significantly different from the model group.

The tumor inhibition rates of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules at high, medium, and low doses were 21.1% (p<0.05), 34.8%, and 35.6% (p<0.01), respectively. This indicates that Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules can enhance cellular immune function and improve the overall immunity of tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion: Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules can regulate the body's disordered immune state, leading to an increase in cytokines such as IL-1, IFN-γ, and NO in tumor-bearing mice; they also enhance delayed-type allergic reactions and the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages, demonstrating a significant antitumor effect on H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice. Enhancing immune function is a key mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules.

Keywords: Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules; H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice; immune regulation; IL-1; IFN-γ; NO

Research on Pei Zhengxue's Series of Formulas and Medicines

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the immune effects of Peishishengxue Granule (PSG) which impacts on H22 tumor mouse. The hemogram were analyzed. We try to discuss the probable mechanism of PSG and provide scientific and microcosmic proof for clinic application.

Methods: Orthotopically transplanted tumor model, observing Peishishengxue Granule (lower, medium, high dosage) effect the tumor bearing mouse (H22) immunological.

Results: Peishishengxue Granule (lower, medium, high dosage) can improve the level of the tumor-bearing mouse (H22) IL-1, IFN-γ, NO. The IL-1 in high dosage group was significantly increased (244.8±27.4, p<0.05 vs model group); IFN-γ: the value of Peishishengxue Granule medium dosage group is 112.2±24.3 (p<0.01 vs model group), high dosage group is 121.4±22.6 (p<0.05 vs model group); NO: the value of lower, medium, high dosage group is 58.0±5.87, 57.0±4.72 and 52.3±6.28 (p<0.01 vs model group). Peishishengxue Granule (lower, medium, high dosage) can enhance late anaphylactic reaction and the mean value of high medium dosage group is 12.4±1.7, 12.1±1.66 (p<0.01); also able to enhance the phagocytosis function of abdominal macrophages and the mean value is 0.161±0.003 (p<0.01 vs model group), 0.174±0.002 and 0.129±0.003 (p<0.05 vs model group). The inhibitory rate is 21.1% (p<0.05), 34.8% and 35.6% (p<0.01). Peishishengxue Granule can improve the cell immune function of the tumor-bearing mouse and immune activity.

Conclusion: Peishishengxue Granule adjust the body immune state, improve the level of the tumor-bearing mouse (H22) IL-1, IFN-γ, NO, enhance late anaphylactic reaction and the phagocytosis function of abdominal macrophages. Peishishengxue Granule (lower, medium, high dosage) absolutely depress the tumor-bearing mouse (H22)' tumor. Improving the cell immune function is important effect mechanism of Peishishengxue Granule antitumor function.

Keywords: PSG; immune function; (H22) anti-tumor; IFN-γ; IL-1; NO

Foreword

Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules originated from the "Lanzhou Formula," a primary prescription used by Professor Pei Zhengxue, a renowned expert in integrated Chinese and Western medicine in China, forty years ago to cure a case of monocytic leukemia. Due to the complete recovery of this leukemia patient, the formula was officially named the "Lanzhou Formula" at the National Hematology Conference in Suzhou in 1973. Over the subsequent decades, Professor Pei used this formula, with modifications, to treat various blood disorders and, primarily in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, achieved remarkable therapeutic effects in treating tumors. In 1997, the formula was designated as an internal preparation of Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital and renamed "Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules." This granule has been widely used clinically for the treatment of various cancers for more than ten years, achieving notable results in the treatment of esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and various deficiency-related diseases. Clinical research on this formula has been underway for many years and has passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements, earning it the First Prize of the Huangfu Mi Science and Technology Achievement Award in Gansu Province in 2003.

Research on Pei Zhengxue's Series of Formulas and Medicines

award. To date, it has treated tens of thousands of patients both within and outside the province, with its clinical efficacy recognized by clinicians and patients alike, enjoying high popularity domestically and internationally.

Although some scholars both inside and outside the province have conducted partial explorations into the mechanisms related to this drug, research on this formula is still in its early stages, and the mechanisms behind its remarkable therapeutic effects have not yet been fully elucidated. Li et al.[1] observed the therapeutic effects of Pei's "Lanzhou Formula" combined with chemotherapy in 100 cancer cases and found that the group receiving Pei's "Lanzhou Formula" in combination with chemotherapy showed significantly better outcomes than the group receiving chemotherapy alone, while also experiencing markedly reduced side effects. Wang et al.[2] conducted an experimental study on the effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules on the immune system of aplastic anemia mice and discovered that Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules could significantly elevate peripheral blood counts in aplastic anemia mice, regulate the body's disordered immune state, increase CD4 levels while decreasing CD8 levels and activity, thereby adjusting the CD4/CD8 ratio; pathological sections of the spleen indicated that Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules had a significant ameliorative effect on the pathological condition of the spleen in aplastic anemia mice. Therefore, we believe that further research on this formula is indeed necessary. This study establishes a tumor-bearing animal model and selects indicators such as IL-1, IFN-γ, NO, the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages, delayed-type allergic reactions, and tumor inhibition rate to conduct an experimental study on the effects of Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules on the immune system of H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice, aiming to further explore its mechanisms of action and provide sufficient evidence for the drug's extensive clinical application and the development of new traditional Chinese medicine formulations effective in preventing and treating tumors.

Experimental Study