Yangjing Capsule Extract Promotes Proliferation Of GC-1 Spg Cells Via Up-regulated POU3F1 Pathway

Objective:To determine whether the transcription factor POU3F1 is up-regulated by YC extract through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to regulate SSCs survival and proliferation.Methods:The cultured GC-1 spermatogonial (spg) cells were treated with 0.01,0.1, and 1 mg/mL YC extract for 48 h. The cell viability was analyzed using MTT assay, while POU3F1 expression was quantitatively detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. POU3F1, GDNF family receptor alphal (GFRal) short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) were applied as blockers to explore the underlying pathway.Results:After 48 h treatment with YC extract, the GC-1 spg cells were proliferated and the POU3F1 expression was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. The POU3F1 siRNA partially blocked those effects of YC extract. Both GFRal siRNA and LY294002, as upstream blockers, reduced the POU3F1 expression induced by YC extract.Conclusion:The YC extract promotes proliferation of GC-1 spg cells via up-regulation of POU3F1. The potential mechanism is that YC extract triggers the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway and then up-regulates POU3F1 expression.