Mouse study finds tea extract eased G-CSF-related pain, not mobilization

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is widely used for stem cell mobilization but is associated with side effects such as pain, which often discourages healthy donors. Jing Si Herbal Tea (JSHT), a novel Chinese herbal formula comprising eight different Chinese herbal medicines, has been shown to exert pleiotropic effects against several disorders. The present study primarily explored the potential effects of JSHT aqueous extract on G-CSF-induced stem cell mobilization and the alleviation of G-CSF-induced pain. The effects of JSHT on G-CSF-induced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) mobilization and pain-related responses in mice were comprehensively evaluated using flow cytometric analysis, nociceptive behavioral assessments, and immunofluorescence staining. Animal studies demonstrated that JSHT had no significant effect on white blood cell (WBC) levels or HSPC mobilization. However, it helped replenish the HSPC level in the bone marrow following G-CSF-induced mobilization of these cells into the peripheral circulation. Furthermore, JSHT increased IFNγ expression in CD45+ and CD45+CD34+ cells, suggesting its potential to enhance HSPC activity. JSHT also alleviated thermal hyperalgesia, with effects comparable to those of acetaminophen (APAP), by reducing neuroinflammation and modulating the expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and the sodium channel Nav1.8 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), thereby reducing G-CSF-induced pain. JSHT had no effect on HSPC mobilization into the peripheral blood but might help regulate HSPC level within the bone marrow and potentially enhance HSPC function during G-CSF treatment. Additionally, JSHT effectively attenuated G-CSF-induced pain, suggesting its potential as a supportive therapy during G-CSF-induced stem cell mobilization.