Abstract
The present study investigated whether Qianliening capsules (QC) affected the apoptosis of benign prostatic hyperplastia epithelial (BPH‑1) cells by regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM). The levels of fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV were determined in the culture medium of BPH‑1 cells maintained in normal medium and of BPH‑1 cells maintained in an environment rich in FN and collagen IV using an enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax) and cyclin D1, respectively. The cell morphology and viability were determined using light microscopy and an MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected by annexin V staining. The results demonstrated that FN and collagen IV affected the apoptotic response of the BPH‑1 cells, QC treatment significantly reduced the levels of FN and collagen IV secreted by the cells into the culture medium (P<0.01), inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, Bcl‑2 and cyclin D1 and promoted the mRNA and protein expression of Bax. Therefore, one of the mechanisms underlying the anti‑BPH action of QC involves promoting apoptosis by regulating the expression of the extracellular matrix.