Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the action of Weipixiao(WPX) in a rat's model with ameliorating gastric precancerous lesions(GPL).METHODS: HPLC analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents of WPX preparation.Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control group, model group, vitacoenzyme group,high-dose WPX group(H-WPX), medium-dose WPX group(M-WPX) and low-dose WPX group(L-WPX).After modeling, the treated rats were administrated WPX or vitacoenzyme intragastrically for consecutive 10 weeks. Gene and protein expressions ofGSK3β, C-myc, Cylin E were evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively.RESULTS: WPX could efficiently attenuate the pathological alterations of "non-progressive GPL" in rats.As expected, mRNA and protein levels of C-myc and Cylin E were up-regulated in model rats, while GSK3β expression down-regulated(P < 0.01). WPX treatment, especially at low dose, could significantly down-regulate the m RNA as well as protein levels of C-myc, and could lead to remarkable up-regulation of mRNA and protein levels of GSK3β in GPL rats(P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in WPX-treated rats.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that WPX-mediated attenuation of GPL pathological alterations might be due to its regulatory effect on the expressions of GSK3β and C-myc, and on the dysregulation of Wnt/GSK3β pathway.

Key words: Gastric precancerous lesions, GSK3β, C-myc, Cylin E, Weipixiao