[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in U937 foam cells and the inhibitory effect of drugs].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in U937 foam cells and the inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract in vitro.


METHODS
U937 cells were incubated with 80 mg.L-1 oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) for 48 h and a macrophage-derived foam cell model was established. The VEGF concentration in the media was determined by ELISA; the VEGF protein expression in cells was measured with immunohistochemistry; the VEGF mRNA level in cells was measured by in situ hybridization; the positive ratio detected by a morphometrical analysis system was used as the amount of the VEGF protein expression and the mRNA level.


RESULTS
After U937 cells were incubated with OX-LDL, VEGF expression level increased greatly both in the cells and in the media. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were shown to remarkably inhibit the increase of VEGF. After treated with 10 micrograms/L-1 salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF protein concentration in the media and positive ratio in the cells decreased compared with foam cells. After treated with 10 micrograms.L-1 salvianolic acid B and 100 micrograms.L-1 Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF mRNA level decreased measured by in situ hybridization.


CONCLUSIONS
A high VEGF expression level was determined in U937 foam cells. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were found to inhibit VEGF expression significantly in U937 foam cells in vitro.
Yang
Peng-yuan
PY
Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Rui
Yao-cheng
YC
Zhang
Li
L
Li
Tie-jun
TJ
Qiu
Yan
Y
Wang
Jie-song
JS
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020298:U937 Cells; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract; D053630:Depsides
D001572:Benzofurans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract; C076944:salvianolic acid B; D053630:Depsides