Qianliening capsules influence the apoptosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial-1 cells by regulating the extracellular matrix

The present study investigated whether Qianliening capsules (QC) affected the apoptosis of benign prostatic hyperplastia epithelial (BPH-1) cells by regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM). The levels of fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV were determined in the culture medium of BPH-1 cells maintained in normal medium and of BPH-1 cells maintained in an environment rich in FN and collagen IV using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cyclin D1, respectively. The cell morphology and viability were determined using light microscopy and an MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected by annexin V staining. The results demonstrated that FN and collagen IV affected the apoptotic response of the BPH-1 cells, QC treatment significantly reduced the levels of FN and collagen IV secreted by the cells into the culture medium (P<0.01), inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 and promoted the mRNA and protein expression of Bax. Therefore, one of the mechanisms underlying the anti-BPH action of QC involves promoting apoptosis by regulating the expression of the extracellular matrix.