Improvement of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis by Jiedu Huoxue decoction through inhibiting TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNBP) accounts for more than 90 % of clinical prostatitis cases, and there is no specific and effective treatment for CNBP. The regulatory role of Jiedu Huoxue decoction (JDHXD)in CNBP remains unclear. We investigated if JDHXD could improve CNBP METHODS: The animal model of CNBP was established by carrageenan injection with 1 % carrageenan (50 µL). The prostate index, epithelial thickness, lumen area, and pain response time were investigated. The apoptosis levels were measured with TUNEL staining and flow cytometry, respectively. Inflammatory factors in the serum were measured with ELISA method. RESULTS: Treatment with JDHXD significantly improve prostate tissues injury in CNBP rats. Some parameters, such as prostate index, and pain response time, reflecting the prostate function were improved by JDHXD. Inhibition of apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammatory response were achieved by JDHXD in vivo. JDHXD markedly suppressed the TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway, and activation of TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway could reverse the improvement of CNBP injury by JDHXD. The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects of JDHXD were proved. CONCLUSION: JDHXD might improve CNBP injury through suppressing inflammation response, ROS, and apoptosis by targeting TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway. This research might provide a new thought for the prevention and treatment of CNBP through inhibiting TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway.