title: Effect of Danzhi decoction on expression of angiogenesis factors in patients with sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of traditional Chinese medicine, Danzhi decoction, on the expression angiogenesis factors in human endometrial cells during the sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease (SPID) and explore the role of Danzhi decction in improving the blood stasis microenvironment of SPID.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three-dimensional (3D) co-culture system including human vascular endothelial cells (VECs), endometrial stromal cells and glandular epithelial cells was established in vitro and treated with Danzhi decoction, sterilized water and aspirin respectively. A Milliplex multifunctional liquid chip technique was used to measure the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/C/D, fibroblast growth factor -1/2, angiopoietin-2, epidermal growth factor (EGF), HB-EGF, bone morphogenetic protein-9, endoglin, endothelin-1, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-8, follistatin, placenta growth factor and leptin. The location of angiogenesis factors was monitored by immunofluorescence labeling and confocal laser scanning microscope 3D reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial stromal cells and glandular epithelial cells were isolated and primary cultured for establishing a 3D co-culture system. The levels of VEGF-A/C/D in Danzhi decoction group and aspirin group were significantly lower than those in mock group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between Danzhi decoction group and aspirin group (P>0.05). Furthermore, the alterative location of VEGF-A/C/D was observed in the cytoplasm of endometrial glandular epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Danzhi decoction may inhibit the expression of VEGF in the blood stasis microenvironment of SPID by targeting the cytoplasm of endometrial glandular epithelial cell.
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Qin
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Oriental Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: jinzhe3223@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
keywords: Angiogenesis factor; Danzhi decoction; Endometrial cells; Microenvironment; Sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease