Mechanism study on the intervention of Jiawei Tongmai Huazheng Decoction on Wnt/β-catenin pathway promoting apoptosis of lesion cells in mice model of adenomyosis / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the effects of intervention of Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway on apoptosis of lesion cells in mice with adenomyosis (AM); To discuss its mechanism of action.Methods:The AM mouse model was established using tamoxifen. The mice were divided into model group, Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction group, and progesterone group according to random number table method, with 7 mice in each group. Additionally, a blank group of 7 female mice was set up. Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction group received oral administration of Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction at a dosage of 36.51 g/kg/day, once daily. The progesterone group received oral administration of progesterone at a dose of 0.32 mg/kg twice a week. The blank group and model group received oral administration of the same volume of physiological saline once daily. After 2 months of intervention, the morphology of uterine tissues was observed by HE staining. The levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and prolactin (PRL) in the serum were measured by ELISA. The mRNA levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin in uterine tissues were determined by PCR. The protein expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, Bax, and Bcl-2 in uterine tissues were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of serum CA125 and PRL were reduced in the Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction group ( P<0.05). The protein expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and Bcl-2 were also reduced ( P<0.05), the protein expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and Bcl-2 decreased ( P<0.05), while the protein expressions of Bax increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Jiawei Tongmai Huazhi Decoction alleviates the progression of lesions by reducing serum CA125 and PRL levels in AM model mice, and can down-regulate Bcl-2 expression and up-regulate Bax expression, promoting apoptosis of ectopic lesion cells in mice. Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway related expression proteins.