Jing Tong Yu Shu, a traditional Chinese medicine, suppresses IL-1β and IL-6 gene expressions in macrophages, and alleviates endometriosis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, Jing Tong Yu Shu (JTYS) on endometriosis in a rat surgical model.
Methods: Endometriosis was induced in 40 female rats. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: three JTYS groups given different doses of the drug, and a saline group. After four weeks of treatment with JTYS, the volume of the endometriotic explants was measured, and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in peritoneal fluid and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The production of cytokine IL-1β and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages was also measured for each group.
Results: JTYS treatment brought about regression of implants and inhibition of IL-1β and IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner, with high-dose JTYS eliciting 66.76 % reduction in mean endometriotic explant volume. Plasma and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly lower in the high-dose JTYS group than in the saline group (p < 0.05). However, JTYS treatment significantly inhibited IL-1β and IL-6 production in peritoneal macrophages (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: These results suggest that JTYS treatment leads to regression of endometriotic lesions in rat. Thus, JTYS has the potential to be developed into a new drug for the treatment of endometriosis.

Keywords: Endometriosis, Interleukins, Traditional Chinese medicine, Jing Tong Yu Shu Macrophages