Mechanism of Guishao Yunpi Decoction in Prevention and Treatment of Mammary Gland Hyperplasia Based on PTEN/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveStudy on the mechanism of Guishao Yunpi decoction in preventing and treating breast hyperplasia based on phosphatase and tensin homolog （PTEN）/ phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） pathway. MethodSeventy SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned into blank group （n=15） and modeling group （n=55）. The mammary gland hyperplasia model of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency was established by the comprehensive modeling method （hunger and satiety abnormality + tail stimulation + estradiol benzoate + progesterone）， and then 5 rats were randomly selected for model verification. The modeled rats were then randomly assigned into five groups： model group， positive control （4 mg·kg-1·d-1 tamoxifen） group， and high-， medium-， and low-dose （17.2， 8.6， 4.3 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） Guishao Yunpi decoction groups， with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the blank group and model group were given 10 mL·kg-1·d-1 distilled water， and those in other groups were orally administrated with corresponding drugs. After 30 days of treatment， the general living conditions of rats were observed， and the thickness of breast tissue was measured by an ultrasonic diagnostic instrument. The open field test was carried out for behavioral evaluation. The levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） and Bcl-2-associated X （Bax） in the breast tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA and protein levels of PTEN， PI3K， and Akt in the breast tissue were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultCompared with those in the blank group， the rats in the model group were irritable， curled up in clusters， and showed positive behavior in the open field test. The modeling led to nipple swelling and increased the breast thickness （P<0.05）. Moreover， the modeling elevated the level of Bcl-2 and lowered that of Bax in the breast tissue （P<0.05）， down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PTEN， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Akt （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， drug administration relieved the general survival state， the degree of nipple swelling， and the positive behavior in the open field test and reduced the breast thickness （P<0.05）. In addition， drug administration reduced the level of Bcl-2 and increased that of Bax in the breast tissue （P<0.05）， up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PTEN， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Akt （P<0.05）. ConclusionGuishao Yunpi decoction can improve the general living conditions and alleviate the mammary gland hyperplasia of rats with the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency， which may be realized by the regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway.