Four-agents decoction inhibits leiomyoma cell growth

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of Four-Agents-Decoction treatment, a Chinese herb commonly used to relieve dysmenorrhea in Taiwan, on human uterine leiomyoma growth. In vitro and animal model experimental study. A nude mice leiomyoma model was used to test the effect of Four-Agents-Decoction on leiomyoma grow. Human leiomyoma cells and myometrial cells were cultured and grown from a pathology proved myoma or normal myometrium respectively. These myometrium cell cultures and leiomyoma cell cultures were proved by histopathology study. The myomectrium and leiomyoma cells were treated with Four-Agents-Decoction. Cell growth was measured by MTT test. Immunohistochemistry study with anti-smooth mucle actin to measure the actin amount in the cells. In animal model study, leiomyoma cube was implanted subcutaneously into the back of nude mice. Tumor size was measured after treatment. Histopathology study revealed that there are less smooth muscle actin in the leiomyoma cells than in the myometrial cells. Serum response factor (SRF), a transcriptional factor crucial for differentiation of muscle progenitor cells to function and normally expressed in myometrial cells, was hardly detected in leiomyoma .Myometrial and leiomyoma cells won't grow in the absence of estrogen. Four-Agents-Decoction suppressed the leiomyoma cell growth. Statistically significant growth inhibition of leiomyoma cells occurred at 10 mg/mL. Immunohistochemistry study revealed all-transretinoic acid treatment increased smooth muscle actin in leiomyoma cells. In nude mice model, Four-Agents-Decoction decreased 30% to 50% of leiomyoma tumor size. Four-Agents-Decoction suppresses leiomyoma cell growth in vitro and in animal model. The nude mice leiomyoma model is a feasible one for futher studying the drug effects on leiomyoma growth.