title: Saikosaponin C induces endothelial cells growth, migration and capillary tube formation.
abstract: Saikosaponin C is one of the saikosaponins that are consisted in a Chinese herb, Radix Bupleuri. Recently, saikosaponins have been reported to have properties of cell growth inhibition, inducing cancer cells differentiation and apoptosis. However, saikosaponin C had no correlation with cell growth inhibition. In this study, we investigated the role of saikosaponin C on the growth of endothelial cells and angiogenesis. We found that saikosaponin C yielded a potent effect on inducing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) viability and growth. In addition to inducing endothelial cells growth, saikosaponin C also induced endothelial cells migration and capillary tube formation. The gene expression or activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK) that correlated with endothelial cells growth, migration and angiogenesis were also induced by saikosaponin C. From these results, we suggest that saikosaponin C may have the potential for therapeutic angiogenesis but is not suitable for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, 95, Wen Chang Road, Shih Lin, Taipei 111, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kou-Gi
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Shiow-Chwen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Bao-Wei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012503:Saponins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C025759:saikosaponin D