Inhibitory effect of bushen huoxue formula against dehydroepiandrosterone-induced inflammation in granulosa cells through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Androgen exposure may be an important factor in promoting the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and disease progression. Bushen Huoxue Foimula (BHF), a traditional Chinese medicine, is prescribed in clinical settings as a PCOS remedy, albeit with unclear pharmacological effects on granulosa cells. The present research explores potentially advantageous BHF impacts and whereby BHF alleviates dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced inflammation and endocrine disruption. Six chemical components in BHF were identified and fingerprint analysis showed good reproducibility. Using a human granulosa cell line (KGN), BHF effects on cell viability, secretion of steroidogenic and inflammatory factors were evaluated and TLR4/NF-kappa B pathway expression was examined. Our results demonstrate that BHF treatment of KGN cells in a DHEA-induced inflammatory state led to increased cell viability, decreased testosterone and estradiol production, and decreased CYP19A1 and HSD3B2 mRNA expression. Further experiments revealed that BHF inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and considerably hindered up-regulation in protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and TRAF6, while inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha. Collectively, BHF administration protected granulosa cells from DHEA-induced injuries through down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and blocking the pathway of TLR4/NF-kappa B. Therefore, BHF hold promise as a therapeutic formulation for preventing androgen induced PCOS.