[Effects of puerarin on number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether puerarin can augment endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) numbers, promote EPC proliferation, migration and adhesion.


METHODS
Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After 7 days culture, attached cells were stimulated with puerarin (to make a series of final concentrations: 0. 1, 0.5, 1, 3 mmol x L(-1)) or vehicle control for the respective time points (6, 12, 24, 48 h). EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPCs proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis activity were assayed with MT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating those on fibronectin-coated dishes, then adherent cells were counted.


RESULTS
Incubation of isolated human MNCs with puerarin dose increased the number of EPCs, maximum at 3 mmol x L(-1), 24 hours (approximately 1-fold increase, P < 0.01). In addition, puerarin also promoted EPC proliferative, migratory, adhesive and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
Puerarin can augment the number of EPCs with enhanced functional activity.
Zhang
Fu-Rong
FR
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Chen
Jun-Zhu
JZ
Zhu
Jun-Hui
JH
Wang
Xing-Xiang
XX
Zhu
Jian-Hua
JH
Shang
Yun-Peng
YP
Guo
Xiao-Gang
XG
Dai
He-Min
HM
Sun
Jian
J
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D029908:Pueraria / Q000737:chemistry; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014680:Veins / Q000166:cytology
D007529:Isoflavones; C033607:puerarin