[Protective effect of puerarin on vascular endothelial cell apoptosis induced by chemical hypoxia in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of puerarin on vascular endothelial cells apoptosis induced by chemical hypoxia-ischemia in vitro.


METHODS
The chemical hypoxia-ischemia model was performed by treating cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with NaCN in glucose-free medium. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue staining. Cell apoptosis was defined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining. The expression of Caspase-3 in endothelial cells was detected by immunocytochemical method.


RESULTS
Chemical hypoxia-ischemia was shown to initiate bovine aortic endothelial cell apoptosis. Puerarin (0.5-3 mmol.L-1) was found to inhibit endothelial cell apoptosis effectively, and reduce the expression of Caspase-3 significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Puerarin can protect apoptotic endothelial cells induced by chemical hypoxia-ischemia markedly and the effect was performed partly by decreasing Caspase-3 expression.
Shi
Rui-li
RL
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
Zhang
Jian-jun
JJ
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007529:Isoflavones; D020011:Protective Agents; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C033607:puerarin