title: Taspine downregulates VEGF expression and inhibits proliferation of vascular endothelial cells through PI3 kinase and MAP kinase signaling pathways.
abstract: Taspine is an active component isolated from Radix et Rhizoma Leonticis with inhibiting tumor angiogenic properties. The molecular mechanism(s) of taspine on tumor angiogenic inhibition have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to elucidate in detail the effects of taspine on genetic expressions of VEGF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and on VEGFR2-mediated intracellular signaling of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The genetic expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with taspine in vitro was measured by the ELISA and RT-PCR methods. The effects of taspine on cell proliferation of HUVECs and HUVECs induced by VEGF165 were considered by using MTT assay. And also, a western blot was used to detect Akt and Erk1/2 expressions and their phosphorylation levels in HUVECs treated with taspine. Our results show that VEGF protein and mRNA expressions in the cells treated with taspine were significantly decreased. Taspine also significantly inhibited cell proliferation of HUVECs induced by VEGF165. HUVECs treated with taspine showed decreased Akt and Erk1/2 activities.
authors.affiliation: Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Langchong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism