The present study is to investigate the effect of berberine on the expression of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, and the expression of apoptosis proteins Bcl-2 and Bax. A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into 7 equal groups, including normal non-pregnant group, normal pregnant group, preeclampsia group, preeclampsia + berberine (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) groups, and preeclampsia + nifedipine (20 mg/kg/day) group. Blood pressure was measured before pregnancy, and on day 15 and 21 of pregnancy. Urines before pregnancy and on day 15 and 21 of pregnancy were collected for the determination of urine protein levels. Peripheral blood was collected from all rats on day 21 of pregnancy to measure the levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. On day 21 of pregnancy, the weight of fetuses and placentas, and the number of normal fetuses were determined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in plasma. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in placenta of rats with preeclampsia. Treatment with berberine for seven days reduced blood pressure, urine proteins levels, and kidney function in rats with preeclampsia. Berberine improved the number of normal fetuses and the weight of fetuses and placentas from rats with preeclampsia. Berberine up-regulated IL-10 and down-regulated IL-2 in the peripheral blood of SD rats with preeclampsia. Berberine up-regulated Bcl-2 and down-regulated Bax in the placenta of SD rats with preeclampsia. Berberine increases the number and weight of normal fetuses in rats with preeclampsia, possibly by regulating the balance of IL-2 and IL-10, and inhibiting apoptosis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4659036PMC

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

rats preeclampsia
24
preeclampsia berberine
20
day pregnancy
16
il-2 il-10
12
normal fetuses
12
preeclampsia
10
berberine
8
preeclampsia regulating
8
bcl-2 bax
8
rats
8

Similar Publications

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific complication and there remains no effective treatment. Given the limitations on medication use during pregnancy, exploring natural, safe, and effective drugs for PE is worthwhile. We investigate the causal relationship between ferroptosis, inflammation, and PE, and determine the protective effects of quercetin (QCT), a representative compound that is classified as a flavanol, against endothelial dysfunction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

GATA1-mediated macrophage polarization via TrkB/cGMP-PKG signaling pathway to promote the development of preeclampsia.

Eur J Med Res

January 2025

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Ji'nan, 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe pregnancy complication characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. PE poses a substantial threat to the health of both mothers and fetuses, and currently, there is no definitive treatment available. Recent studies have indicated that the transcription factor GATA1 may be implicated in the pathological processes of PE, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multifactorial disorder of pregnancy, characterized by new-onset gestational hypertension. High-throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to analyze the gene expression patterns in placentas from patients with early-onset PE (EOPE). PR domain zinc-finger protein 1 (PRDM1) expression increased in the chorionic villi and placental basal plate from patients with PE and nitro--arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated rats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

IGSF8 impairs migration and invasion of trophoblast cells and angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Exp Cell Res

January 2025

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China. Electronic address:

Insufficient trophoblast cell infiltration is implicated in the progression of preeclampsia (PE). The immunoglobulin superfamily member 8 (IGSF8) has been shown to promote cell migration, invasion, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the specific impact of IGSF8 on trophoblast cells in PE has not been definitively demonstrated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Toll-like receptor 4 inhibition by pyridostigmine is associated with a reduction in hypertension and inflammation in rat models of preeclampsia.

J Hypertens

February 2025

Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is marked by hypertension and detrimental sterile inflammatory response. Despite the reported anti-inflammatory effect of pyridostigmine bromide (PYR) in different models, its anti-inflammatory mechanism in PE is unclear. This study assessed whether such an anti-inflammatory effect involves inhibition of placental Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!