240 3 Journal of J Yu, Y Liu et al. Baicalin for PCOS 240:3 497–507 Endocrinology RESEARCH Baicalin inhibits recruitment of GATA1 to the HSD3B2 promoter and reverses hyperandrogenism of PCOS Jin Yu1,*, Yuhuan Liu2,*, Danying Zhang1, Dongxia Zhai1, Linyi Song1, Zailong Cai3 and Chaoqin Yu1 1Department of Gynecology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China Correspondence should be addressed to C Yu or Z Cai:
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[email protected] *(J Yu and Y Liu contributed equally to this work) Abstract High androgen levels in patients suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Key Words can be effectively reversed if the herbScutellaria baicalensis is included in traditional f baicalin Chinese medicine prescriptions. To characterize the effects of baicalin, extracted from f polycystic ovary syndrome S. baicalensis, on androgen biosynthesis in NCI-H295R cells and on hyperandrogenism f hyperandrogenism in PCOS model rats and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The optimum f HSD3B2 concentration and intervention time for baicalin treatment of NCI-H295R cells were f GATA1 determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and ELISA. The functional genes affected by baicalin were studied by gene expression profiling (GEP), and the key genes were identified using a dual luciferase assay, RNA interference technique and genetic mutations. Besides, hyperandrogenic PCOS model rats were induced and confirmed before and after baicalin intervention. As a result, baicalin decreased the testosterone concentrations in a dose- and time-dependent manner in NCI-H295R cells.