Effects of the Bushen Zhuyun Formula（补肾助孕方）on JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway and Macrophage Polarization in Uterine Tissues of Mice with Embryo Implantation Failure
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.16.013
- VernacularTitle:补肾助孕方对胚胎着床障碍模型小鼠子宫组织JAK2/STAT3信号通路及巨噬细胞极化的影响
- Author:
Yunan LIU
1
;
Huifang ZHOU
2
;
Chen WANG
1
;
Mengwen ZHANG
1
;
Ping CHEN
3
Author Information
1. The First Clinical School of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou，450046
2. The First Clinical School of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
3. The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
infertility;
recurrent implantation failure;
Janus kinase 2;
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3;
macrophage polarization;
Bushen Zhuyun Formula （补肾助孕方）
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(16):1767-1774
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Bushen Zhuyun Formula（补肾助孕方， BZF） on macrophage pola-rization in mouse uterine tissue with embryo implantation failure based on the janus kinase 2 （JAK2）/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty female and 25 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups including blank group， model group， low- and high-dose BZF groups， and dydrogesterone group， with 10 female and 5 male mice in each group. Except for the blank group， female mice in the estrous phase were subjected to superovulation induction. At 18：00 on the same day， female mice were co-housed with male mice at a ratio of 2∶1. The presence of sperm in vaginal exfoliated cells was examined on the following day， which was designated as gestational day 1 （GD1）. On GD4， an oil-based mifepristone solution was subcutaneously injected into the neck region of female mice to establish an embryo implantation dysfunction model. Beginning on GD1， mice in the low- and high-dose BZF groups were given 11.18 and 22.36 g/kg of the BZF solution by gavage， respectively. The dydrogesterone group was given 2.6 mg/kg of dydrogesterone solution by gavage. The blank group and the model group were given 10 g/kg of normal saline by gavage once daily. Interventions were administered once a day until GD4. On GD5， uterine tissues were collected， and HE staining was performed to evaluate endometrial morphology， endometrial thickness， and glandular number in female mice. The proportions of M1 and M2 macrophages in uterine tissues were detected by flow cytometry， and the levels of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in uterine tissue were measured by ELISA. The protein expression levels of Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， phosphorylated JAK2 （p-JAK2）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， and phosphorylated STAT3 （p-STAT3） in uterine tissue were detected by western blotting， and the mRNA expressions of JAK2， STAT3， IL-10， and TGF-β1 in uterine tissue was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. ResultsCompared to the blank group， the model group exhibited smaller and straighter endometrial glands， denser stroma， and fewer blood vessels， with reduced endometrial thickness and decreased glandular numbers. The proportion of M1 macrophages in uterine tissue increased， while the proportion of M2 macrophages and the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 decreased. The protein expression levels of JAK2， p-JAK2， STAT3， and p-STAT3， as well as the p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 ratios， were reduced. The mRNA expressions of JAK2， STAT3， IL-10， and TGF-β1 also decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared to the model group， the above indicators were improved in the low- and high-dose BZF groups， while some indicators were improved in the dydrogesterone group （P＜0.05）. Compared to the dydrogesterone group and the low-dose BZF group， the high-dose BZF group showed superior effects in improving endometrial morphology， endometrial thickness， glandular number， the proportion of M1 macrophages in uterine tissues， TGF-β1 levels， JAK2， p-JAK2， and p-STAT3 protein expression levels， the p-STAT3/STAT3 and p-JAK2/JAK2 ratios， as well as JAK2， IL-10， and TGF-β1 mRNA expressions （P＜0.05）. ConclusionBZF can improve the morphology of the endometrium during implantation in mice with embryo implantation failure， which may be related to specific regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway， modulation of macrophage polarization， and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokine expression.
