Weipixiao ameliorates gastric precancerous lesions in a rat's model by regulating GSK3¦Â and C-myc.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the action of Weipixiao (WPX) in a rat's model with ameliorating gastric precancerous lesions (GPL). METHODS: HPLC analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents of WPX preparation. Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control group, model group, vitacoenzyme group, high-dose WPX group (H-WPX), medium-dose WPX group (M-WPX) and low-dose WPX group (L-WPX). After modeling, the treated rats were administrated WPX or vitacoenzyme intragastrically for consecutive 10 weeks. Gene and protein expressions of GSK3¦Â, C-myc, Cylin E were evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: WPX could efficiently attenuate the pathological alterations of ""non-progressive GPL"" in rats. As expected, mRNA and protein levels of C-myc and Cylin E were up-regulated in model rats, while GSK3¦Â expression down-regulated (P < 0.01). WPX treatment, especially at low dose, could significantly down-regulate the mRNA as well as protein levels of C-myc, and could lead to remarkable up-regulation of mRNA and protein levels of GSK3¦Â in GPL rats (P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in WPX-treated rats. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that WPX-mediated attenuation of GPL pathological alterations might be due to its regulatory effect on the expressions of GSK3¦Â and C-myc, and on the dysregulation of Wnt/GSK3¦Â pathway.