Increased serum protein levels by Yuanshi Shengmai Chenggu Tablet in treatment of avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Yuanshi Shengmai Chenggu Tablet is used for treating the common orthopedic disease, hormone-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) in China. However, its underlying mechanism and the changes induced in the treatment of ANFH remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, through the use of isobaric Tag for Relative and Absolute Quantitation and multiple reaction monitoring quantifications, corticosteroid-induced femoral head necrosis and the effects of treatment with Yuanshi Shengmai Chenggu Tablet were examined. The aim was to identify serum proteins, which may be potential serum markers for the early clinical diagnosis of ANFH, and maybe used to develop more rapid and convenient detection strategies. A total of five proteins were identified, comprising Ig mu chain C region, keratin, type I cytoskeletal 9, properdin, apolipoprotein A-IV, and IQ and AAA domain-containing protein 1. The expression levels of all five proteins were lower in ANFH and were higher following TCM treatment. These findings were confirmed using ELISA and western blot analysis.