Low-dose chidamide restores immune tolerance in ITP in mice and humans.

Increased macrophage phagocytosis of antibody-coated platelets, as well as decreased numbers and/or impaired function of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, has been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Low-dose histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi's) are anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents that can enhance immunosuppression in graft-versus-host disease by increasing the number and function of Foxp3+ Treg cells, but it is unclear whether they have the potential to promote immune tolerance and platelet release in ITP. In this study, we performed in vitro and in vivo experiments and found that a low-dose HDACi (chidamide) alleviated thrombocytopenia in passive and active murine models of ITP. Further, low-dose HDACi's attenuated macrophage phagocytosis of antibody-coated platelets, stimulated the production of natural Foxp3+ Treg cells, promoted the peripheral conversion of T cells into Treg cells, and restored Treg cell suppression in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we confirmed that low-dose HDACi's could regulate CTLA4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through modulation of histone H3K27 acetylation. Low-dose HDACi treatment in ITP could be offset by blocking the effect of CTLA4. Therefore, we propose that low-dose chidamide administration has potential as a novel treatment for ITP in the clinic.

Gypenosides protected the neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of neonatal rats that were prenatally exposed to ethanol.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause severe mental retardation in children who are prenatally exposed to ethanol. The effects of prenatal and early postnatal ethanol exposure on adult hippocampal neurogenesis have been investigated; however, the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on the subventricular zone (SVZ) have not. Gypenosides (GPs) have been reported to have neuroprotective effects in addition to other bioactivities. The effects of GPs on neural stem cells (NSCs) in the FASD model are unknown. Here, we test the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on the neonatal SVZ, and the protection potential of GPs on NSCs in FASD rats. Our results show that prenatal ethanol exposure can suppress the cell proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the neonatal SVZ and that GPs (400 mg/kg/day) can significantly increase the cell proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells inhibited by ethanol. Our data indicate that GPs have neuroprotective effects on the NSCs and can enhance the neurogenesis inhibited by ethanol within the SVZ of neonatal rats. These findings provide new evidence for a potential therapy involving GPs for the treatment of FASD.

Anti-c-Mpl antibodies in immune thrombocytopenia suppress thrombopoiesis and decrease response to rhTPO.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-TPO receptor (anti-c-Mpl) antibodies exist and could affect rhTPO treatment in ITP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-c-Mpl autoantibodies and TPO levels were measured in serum from 187 ITP patients and 59 healthy controls. The anti-c-Mpl-antibody-positive (anti-c-Mpl+) and anti-c-Mpl-antibody-negative (anti-c-Mpl-) IgG from ITP patients were assessed on megakaryocyte proliferation, polyploidy, apoptosis, and platelet release with rhTPO treatment. RESULTS: Anti-c-Mpl antibodies were detected in 54/187 ITP patients but in none of the controls. ITP patients with anti-c-Mpl antibodies had higher serum TPO levels, but lower megakaryocyte and platelet counts compared with anti-c-Mpl- patients. Antibodies targeting platelet glycoprotein (GP) were also more frequently identified in anti-c-Mpl+ ITP patients. Moreover, patients with anti-c-Mpl antibodies were less responsive to rhTPO treatment than patients without anti-c-Mpl antibodies. Additionally, the anti-c-Mpl antibody titer decreased in ITP patients following treatment. In vitro study, lower megakaryopoiesis, platelet generation and percent of polyploidy were observed in anti-c-Mpl+ group compared with the anti-c-Mpl- group in the presence of rhTPO. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that the anti-c-Mpl antibody represents a novel indicator of poor prognosis and may be a potential therapeutic target in ITP.

Gypenosides pre-treatment protects the brain against cerebral ischemia and increases neural stem cells/progenitors in the subventricular zone.

Gypenosides (GPs) have been reported to have neuroprotective effects in addition to other bioactivities. The protective activity of GPs during stroke and their effects on neural stem cells (NSCs) in the ischemic brain have not been fully elucidated. Here, we test the effects of GPs during stroke and on the NSCs within the subventricular zone (SVZ) of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. Our results show that pre-treatment with GPs can reduce infarct volume and improve motor function following MCAO. Pre-treatment with GPs significantly increased the number of BrdU-positive cells in the ipsilateral and contralateral SVZ of MCAO rats. The proliferating cells in both sides of the SVZ were glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/nestin-positive type B cells and doublecortin (DCX)/nestin-positive type A cells. Our data indicate that GPs have neuroprotective effects during stroke which might be mediated through the enhancement of neurogenesis within the SVZ. These findings provide new evidence for a potential therapy involving GPs for the treatment of stroke.