The inhibition of genistein on endometrium growth in endometriosis nude mice model

Objective To investigate the effect of genistein on the growth and focal adhesion kinase(FAK) activity of human endometrium in nude mice endometriosis model,and explore the potential mechanism of genistein action.Methods Endometriosis nude mice models were established and randomly divided into six groups:low-dose genistein(0.5 mg/kg) group,middle-dose genistein(1.5 mg/kg) group,high-dose genistein(4.5 mg/kg) group,estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen(4.5 mg/kg) group,normal saline control group and DMSO solvent control group.The growth in human endometrium transplanted into nude mice was measured once each week.The estrogen content in nude mice model was determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay method,and FAK and AKT proteins and their phosphorylated forms in the endometrium tissues were detected by western blot.Results Compared with normal saline or DMSO control group,genistein could have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the growth of human endometrium in nude mice endometriosis model(P0.05),and there was a significant difference between tamoxifen group and high-dose genistein group(P0.05);Genistein did not influence estrogen content,but could downregulate the phosphorylation levels of FAK and AKT in human endometrium.Conclusion Genistein could effectively inhibit the endometrial growth in nude mice endometriosis model.The inhibition on FAK and AKT phosphorylation may be a part of the mechanism of genistein.