[Inhibitory effect of Qiangjing Tablets on the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-ɑ from mouse Sertoli cells: A study based on the microenvironment of spermatogenesis].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-ɑ from Sertoli cells in infertile mice based on the microenvironment of spermatogenesis.

METHODS

We isolated and cultured mouse Sertoli cells, established the model of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in the cells, and treated the cells with QJT at the concentrations of 2.5%, 5% and 10% in the serum. After modeling, we determined the contents of IL-1β and TNF-ɑ in the supernatant of the cells by ELISA and examined the effect of QJT on the secretion of the inflammatory factors from the Sertoli cells by analyzing the dose-effect and time-effect relationships of the drug.

RESULTS

In comparison with the blank control, the UU-infected Sertoli cells showed significantly increased secretion of IL-1β and TNF-ɑ (P < 0.05), the former reaching the peak value in 12 hours and the latter in 24 hours, followed by a downward trend. The secretion of IL-1β was remarkably inhibited in the 5% and 10% QJT groups (P < 0.05) and that of TNF- ɑ in the 10% QJT group compared with those in the UU infection model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The secretion of IL-1β and TNF-ɑ is significantly increased in the UU-infected Sertoli cells, and that of IL-1β negatively correlated with time. QJT-containing serum can inhibit the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-ɑ from Sertoli cells, and the inhibitory effect of IL-1 β is most significant at 5% and 10% and that of TNF- ɑ at 10%.