In Vitro Inhibitory Effects of Maqian Essential Oil against Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells and LPS-Induced Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Li LP, Li-Ping Li, Liping Li, Yong Luo, Luo Y, Cheng Huang, Huang C, Xin‐rong Wang, Wang XR, Xin-Rong Wang, Ting-Ting Huang, Tingting Huang, Huang TT, Yong-Yi Zou, Yongyi Zou, Zou YY, Shuhui Huang, Huang SH, Shu-Hui Huang, Yanqiu Liu, Yan-Qiu Liu, Liu YQ, B. K. Yang
Chemistry & biodiversity · 2022 · vol. 19(12) , pp. e202200756 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202200756 · PMID:36377549 · W4309093303
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Maqian essential oil dose-dependently reduced ectopic endometrial stromal cell viability, induced apoptosis, inhibited migration, and altered expression of apoptosis and adhesion proteins, while also suppressing LPS-induced inflammation in epithelial cells.

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Abstract

Previous studies revealed that MQEO (Maqian fruits essential oil), which is extracted from the fruit of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. Pubescens), had a good anti-inflammatory effect, but the effect on endometriosis in vitro remains unknown. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of MQEO against the EESCs (ectopic endometrial stromal cells) were investigated. Cells were treated with a concentration gradient (from 0.025 % to 0.15 %) of MQEO for 24 h and cell viability was detected by CCK-8. In addition, apoptotic rates were investigated using flow cytometry. The effect of MQEO on cell migration was determined by wound-healing and transwell assay. The expression of apoptosis-associated and cell adhesion-related proteins was assessed by western blotting. The transcriptional levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by Real-time qPCR. RNA-seq was used to identify the DEGs (differentially expressed genes) in MQEO-pretreated EESCs. We found that the MQEO condition dosage-dependently reduced the cell viability of EESCs. Based on flow cytometry results, the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly with dosage. The wound-healing and transwell results showed that MQEO group exhibited a significantly decreased cell motility and migration ability in comparison with the normal group. Western blotting results showed that MQEO down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) and CD44, but up-regulated the cleaved caspase-3 expression in EESCs. What's more, MQEO also inhibited the LPS-induced inflammation in human EECs (endometrial epithelial cells). RNA-seq revealed that 221 DEGs were up-regulated genes and 284 DEGs were down-regulated in MQEO-pretreated EESCs. Our data uncovered the beneficial effects of MQEO in endometriosis and provided new insights into the mechanism of the effect of MQEO on EESCs, suggesting MQEO could be a promising new therapeutic agent for endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

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