Xiongshao capsule promotes angiogenesis of HUVEC via enhancing cell proliferation and up-regulating the expression of bFGF and VEGF.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the angiogenic effect of the Xiongshao capsule (XSC) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms mediating its biological effect.

METHODS:

Serum pharmacology was applied in this study, in which different doses of XSC were administrated to rats orally and then XSC-containing serum (XSC-S) was collected for the following in vitro experiments. The viability of HUVEC was determined by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell density was observed via phase-contrast microscopy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis with propidium iodide staining was performed to determine cell cycle phase. Cell migration was determined by wound-healing method. Capillary tube formation by HUVEC was examined using ECMatrix gel-based assay. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression levels were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) analyses.

RESULTS:

XSC-S dose-dependently stimulated proliferation of HUVEC by promoting the cell cycle G1 to S progression. In addition, XSC-S treatment dramatically increased the migration and capillary tube formation of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, XSC-S enhanced the expression of VEGF and bFGF at both mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSION:

XSC can promote several features of angiogenesis in endothelial cells through up-regulating the expression of bFGF and VEGF, suggesting that XSC may be a potential novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases.

• Authors: Jiu-Mao Lin, Jin-Yan Zhao, Qun-Chuan Zhuang, Zhen-Feng Hong, Jun Peng
• Journal: Chinese journal of integrative medicine (Chin J Integr Med) Vol. 17 Issue 11 Pg. 840-6 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 1672-0415 [Print] China
• PMID: 22057413 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Capsules
• Drug Combinations
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Laminin
• Proteoglycans
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• xiongshao
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
• matrigel
• Collagen

Topics

• Animals
• Capsules
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Collagen (pharmacology)
• Drug Combinations
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• Laminin (pharmacology)
• Male
• Neovascularization, Physiologic (drug effects, genetics)
• Proteoglycans (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• S Phase (drug effects)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (genetics, metabolism)