Quyu Shengji Formula Facilitates Diabetic Wound Healing via Inhibiting the Expression of Prostaglandin Transporter

Quyu Shengji Formula (QSF), a Chinese medicine formula widely used in the clinic, has proven therapeutic effects on diabetic ulcers. Nevertheless, the potential mechanism of how QSF cures diabetic ulcer remains elusive.

To assess the mechanism of QSF against wound healing defects in diabetes.

Db/db mice were adopted to determine the therapeutic potential of QSF. Further histology analysis was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Moreover, the expression patterns of prostaglandin transporter (PGT), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and angiogenesis factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated by immunostaining (IHC) analysis, ELISA assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot analysis in vivo. Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) and the shRNA interference technique were used to explore the effects of QSF on cell migration, PGT, PGE₂, and angiogenesis factor VEGF in vitro.

Applied QSF on the wound of db/db mice significantly accelerated wound closure. Reductions of PGT and elevations of PGE₂ and increased angiogenesis factor VEGF levels were shown after QSF treatment in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, QSF promoted HDMEC migration. Inhibition of the expression of PGT by shRNA reversed phenotypes of QSF treatment in vitro.

Taken together, our findings reveal that QSF ameliorates diabetes-associated wound healing defects by abolishing the expression of PGT.