Bushen Xiaozheng Decoction Improves Immunosuppression in a Rat Model of Endometriosis by Reducing IL-10 and TGF-β Levels

Feng Chen, Yi-Fan Cui, Wen-Xuan Zhang
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2026 · vol. 95(3) , pp. e70223 · doi:10.1111/aji.70223 · PMID:41782485
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This study evaluated the effects of Bushen Xiaozheng Decoction (BSXZD) on the immunosuppressive microenvironment and lesion growth in a rat endometriosis model induced by autologous endometrial transplantation. Using groups including normal, sham, model, Yasmin, and low-, medium-, and high-dose BSXZD (n=10 per group), the authors measured ectopic lesion volume and assessed histological changes, alongside quantifying IL-10 and TGF-β protein/gene expression in serum and endometrium via immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. BSXZD treatment reduced ectopic lesion volume and improved endometrial structural abnormalities, with significantly lower IL-10 and TGF-β levels in both tissues and circulation. The authors note that the precise molecular mechanism remains to be clarified in further studies. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it tests BSXZD in a rat endometriosis model and links its anti-lesion effects to reduced IL-10 and TGF-β mediated immunosuppression.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: How does the traditional Chinese compound Bushen Xiaozheng Decoction (BSXZD) affect the immunosuppressive microenvironment in rat endometriosis models? METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal, sham operation, model, Yasmin, and low-, medium-, high-dose BSXZD groups with 10 rats in each group. The endometriosis model was established by autologous endometrial transplantation, and corresponding interventions were given for 28 days. The volume of ectopic lesions was measured, and histological changes of endometrium were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein or gene expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in serum or endometrium was detected by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Following treatment with BSXZD, the pseudostratified phenomenon and cavity structure of endometrial cells were reduced. Additionally, the expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in both endometrium and serum were significantly decreased, accompanied by a marked reduction in the volume of ectopic lesions. CONCLUSION: BSXZD can significantly inhibit the growth of ectopic lesions in a rat model of endometriosis. The underlying mechanism may involve dual regulation of the endocrine-immune axis: it not only directly downregulates the expression of the immunosuppressive factors IL-10 and TGF-β to reversing the local immunosuppressive microenvironment, but also indirectly modulates these cytokines via sex hormone-related signaling pathways. Further studies are needed to clarify the precise molecular mechanism.
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Abstract

Problem How does the traditional Chinese compound Bushen Xiaozheng Decoction (BSXZD) affect the immunosuppressive microenvironment in rat endometriosis models?

Methods

Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal, sham operation, model, Yasmin, and low-, medium-, high-dose BSXZD groups with 10 rats in each group. The endometriosis model was established by autologous endometrial transplantation, and corresponding interventions were given for 28 days. The volume of ectopic lesions was measured, and histological changes of endometrium were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein or gene expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in serum or endometrium was detected by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Following treatment with BSXZD, the pseudostratified phenomenon and cavity structure of endometrial cells were reduced. Additionally, the expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in both endometrium and serum were significantly decreased, accompanied by a marked reduction in the volume of ectopic lesions.

Conclusion

BSXZD can significantly inhibit the growth of ectopic lesions in a rat model of endometriosis. The underlying mechanism may involve dual regulation of the endocrine-immune axis: it not only directly downregulates the expression of the immunosuppressive factors IL-10 and TGF-β to reversing the local immunosuppressive microenvironment, but also indirectly modulates these cytokines via sex hormone-related signaling pathways. Further studies are needed to clarify the precise molecular mechanism. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

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