[Effect of yiqi huoxue huayu recipe on vascular collagen turnover and relevant gene expression].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of Yiqi Huoxue recipe (YHR), a Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Qi, activating blood circulation to remove stasis, on vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and its molecular mechanism.


METHODS
Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation activity and collagen turnover rate were detected by 3H-TdR test and hydroxyproline amount determined by 3H-Pro incorporation. Expression activity of MMP-2 and osteopontin genes was detected by Northern blotting and MMP-2 zymography analysis.


RESULTS
YHR could markedly inhibit VSMC collagen synthesis stimulated by blasic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and lower the collagen turnover rate induced by vascular de-endothelialization. The expression level of MMP-2 and osteopontin genes was down-regulated by YHR in cultured VSMC and vascular wall with endothelial injury, and VSMC proliferation was inhibited by the serum obtained from YHR treated rats. Removing protein from the drug serum made no change on the effect of YHR to VSMC.


CONCLUSIONS
YHR could inhibit and/or retard ECM remodeling through regulating the expression of MMP-2 and osteopontin genes and lowering the collagen turnover rate.
Han
Mei
M
Institute of Chinese and Western Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017.
Wen
Jin-kun
JK
Zhou
Xiu-xia
XX
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053495:Osteopontin; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C506897:Spp1 protein, rat; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D053495:Osteopontin; C033946:yiki-huoxue; D003094:Collagen; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2