Bushen Huoxue decoction improves the reproduction of endometriosis-associated infertility by regulating Homeobox A10 and αlpha(v)beta(3) integrin expression

J Tradit Chin Med. 2024 Dec;44(6):1137-1145. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2024.06.004.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue decoction (, BSHXD) to treat endometriosis-induced infertility.

Medhods: The main compounds of BSHXD were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The effect of BSHXD on Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) and alpha(v)beta(3) (αvβ3) integrin expression of Ishikawa cells, mouse model, and endometriosis-associated infertility women was evaluated by using Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The efficacy of BSHXD on embryo attachment were examined by using the BeWo spheroid and mouse embryo attachment assay. HOXA10 concentration in uterine flushing fluid of endometriosis-associated infertility women treated with BSHXD was measured by Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: BSHXD improved BeWo spheroid and mice blastocysts attachment to Ishikawa cells and increased embryo implantation rates in mice and pregnancy rates in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. BSHXD enhanced HOXA10 and αvβ3 integrin expression in Ishikawa cell, endometriosis mouse model, and endometriosis-associated infertility women, which potentially improved endometrial receptivity.

Conclusions: BSHXD could improve endometrial receptivity of endometriosis-associated infertility in a dose-dependent manner by regulating HOXA10 and αvβ3 integrin expression.

Keywords: Bushen Huoxue decoction; endometriosis; homeobox A10 proteins; infertility; integrin alphaVbeta3.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / administration & dosage
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
  • Embryo Implantation / drug effects
  • Endometriosis* / complications
  • Endometriosis* / drug therapy
  • Endometriosis* / genetics
  • Endometriosis* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Homeobox A10 Proteins* / genetics
  • Homeobox A10 Proteins* / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins* / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female* / drug therapy
  • Infertility, Female* / etiology
  • Infertility, Female* / genetics
  • Infertility, Female* / metabolism
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3* / genetics
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Homeobox A10 Proteins
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • HOXA10 protein, human