Polysaccharides from Bupleurum Induce Immune Reversal in Late Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Bupleurum chinense, a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used for thousands of years in China. In this study, we would suggest that Bupleurum polysaccharides (BPS) could improve the prognosis of sepsis through its impact on redistribution of BMCs, which triggers immune reversal in late sepsis.

METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: sham burn group, burn plus P aeruginosa group, burn plus P aeruginosa with BPS (40 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg) treatment group, and they were sacrificed at post-burn day (PBD) 0, 3, 5, and 7. BMCs, liver cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) were harvested. Flow cytometry was used to determine the change of phenotypes of DCs and isolate these cells. Cytometric beads array was utilized to analyze the level of inflammatory factors. Cell therapy of BMCs, liver cells, and DCs was administrated to explore the protective role of regional organ immunity.

RESULTS: BPS could decrease the lethality of burn sepsis in a dose-dependent fashion and increase both the percentage of CD11cCD45RB DCs in bone marrow (BM) and liver and the number of BMCs and liver cells significantly. Cell therapy of BMCs, liver cells, and CD11cCD45RB DCs at PBD7 could protect septic mice from sepsis.

CONCLUSION: BPS has shown its potential in promoting the prognosis of post-burn sepsis through its effect on immune redistribution of BMCs, especially via differentiation of CD11cCD45RB DC cells in BM and nonimmune organs to induce immune reversal in late sepsis.