[Effects of tetramethylpyrazine on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha by rat peritoneal macrophages].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in macrophages.


METHODS
Rat peritoneal macrophages were treated with LPS, and at the same time given different doses of tetramethylpyrazine. The secreation of VEGF was determined by ELISA test, and MTT assay was used to examine cells proliferation. Western blot assay was used to examine the expression of HIF-1alpha.


RESULTS
100 microg x mL(-1) and 10 microg x mL(-1) tetramethylpyrazine decreased the secretion of VEGF and also inhibited the expression of HIF-1alpha by LPS-induced macrophages. But these doses of tetramethylpyrazine had no effect on the cells proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
Tetramethylpyrazine could inhibit the secretion of VEGF by LPS-induced macrophages, and the mechanism must be associated with inhibiting the expression of HIF-1alpha. The inhibition effect was not due to inhibition of the proliferation of macrophages.
Xu
Xiao-Yu
XY
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. xxy0618@sina.com
Ye
Lan
L
Chen
Gang
G
Feng
Jun-Dong
JD
Chen
Wei-Hai
WH
Hu
Yi-Yong
YY
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D030004:Ligusticum / Q000737:chemistry; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D011719:Pyrazines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine