Work

Ningxue Shengban decoction containing serum alleviates immune thrombocytopenia by modulating CD4+T cells balance via BMSCs-Exo-miR-199a-5p

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The abnormal immune response mediated by CD4 + T cells is a key factor in Immune thrombocytopenia(ITP) progression. While Ningxue Shengban Decoction (NXSBD) is an effective therapeutic, its underlying mechanism and targets remain obscure. This study aims to clarify the role of exosomal miR-199a-5p derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in immune homeostasis, and to explore the therapeutic effects of exosomes from BMSCs(BMSCs-Exo) pretreated with NXSBD containing serum on ITP. We co-cultured CD4 + T cells with BMSCs or pre-treated BMSCs-Exo. The proliferation and differentiation of CD4 + T cells were then assessed using CFSE staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Additionally, an active ITP murine model was employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of pre-treated BMSCs-Exo. Platelet counts were measured and organ indices were calculated. Serum autoantibody levels were measured by FCM and ELISA, changes in CD4⁺T cells subsets in the spleen were analyzed by FCM, megakaryocyte number and morphology in bone marrow tissues were examined by H&E staining, and key cytokine levels in mouse serum were quantified by ELISA. Our results indicate that the immunomodulatory effect of BMSCs-Exo on CD4 + T cells is mediated by miR-199a-5p, and that NXSBD containing serum enhances this effect by increasing miR-199a-5p levels. In an active ITP murine model, BMSCs-Exo treatment significantly ameliorated the pathological features of ITP, as evidenced by increased peripheral platelet counts, reduced spleen and thymus indices, and decreased levels of autoantibodies. Immunophenotypic analysis revealed that an increased percentage of splenic Treg and Th2 cells, and a decreased percentage of Th17 and Th1 cells, were observed after BMSCs-Exo treatment. Additionally, BMSCs-Exo enhanced the production of mature megakaryocytes. Following BMSCs-Exo treatment, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were sharply lowered, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokine levels were markedly elevated. BMSCs-Exo pretreated with NXSBD containing serum exert superior therapeutic efficacy compared with those derived from untreated BMSCs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of NXSBD containing serum in ITP mice may be attributed to its upregulation of miR-199a-5p in BMSCs-Exo, which contributes to modulating the immune balance of CD4 + T cells.

Source: Stem Cell Research & Therapy

DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-04936-3