[Animal modeling] - Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule inhibits angiogenesis in liver cancer model rats through miR-200c/ZEB pathway

  Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule on angiogenesis in rat model of liver cancer and its possible mechanism.

  Methods Wistar rats were divided into control group (Control), model group (prepared by low dose diethylammonium nitrite (DEN) induction method), Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule group (2.62g/kg), si miR-200c group (20 pm), Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule+si miR-200c group, 12 rats in each group, each group was treated for 8 weeks. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue in rats; Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; The expression of miR-200c in liver tissue was detected by fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR; The expression of zinc finger protein (ZEb-2) and VEGF in liver tissue was detected by Western blot; The positive expression of ZEb-2, VEGF and microvessel density (MVD) was detected by immunohistochemistry.

  Results Compared with the control group, the levels of VEGF, ALT, AST in the model group increased, more deformed and necrotic cells appeared in the liver tissue, the expression of miR-200c in the liver tissue decreased, the expression of ZEb-2, VEGF protein increased, and the positive expression rate of ZEb-2, VEGF, MVD increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of VEGF, ALT and AST in the Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule group were lower, the degree of cell deformation was reduced, the degree of cancer cell differentiation was higher, the expression of miR-200c was increased, the expression of ZEb-2, VEGF protein was decreased, and the positive expression rate of ZEb-2, VEGF and MVD was decreased; In si-miR-200c group, the levels of VEGF, ALT and AST increased, the degree of cell canceration increased, the expression of miR-200c in liver tissue decreased, the expression of ZEb-2 and VEGF protein increased, and the positive expression rate of ZEb-2, VEGF and MVD increased (P<0.05). The level of VEGF, ALT and AST in Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule+si-miR-200c group was lower than that in si-miR-200c group, the positive expression rate of ZEb-2, VEGF protein, ZEb-2, VEGF and MVD was lower than that in si-miR-200c group, and the expression of miR-200c was higher than that in si-miR-200c group (P<0.05).

  Conclusion Zhenqi Fuzheng Granule can inhibit angiogenesis and alleviate the development of cancer in liver cancer model rats. Its mechanism may be related to the up regulation of miR-200c expression, and then the negative regulation of ZEb-2 protein expression.