Inhibitory effects of emodin on the proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cell-induced by angiotensin II.
Rhubarb, used as a traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, offers therapeutic potential for cardiovascular and other diseases. Emodin, extracted from the root extract of rhubarb has sparked increasing interest for therapeutic application. The main objective was to study the effect of emodin on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and the expression of proto-oncogene c-myc. VSMCs were cultured by the explant method, then incubated for 24, 48 and 72 h with emodin (10-80 microm) and Ang II, or were left untreated (control). Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), respectively. The expression of c-myc was measured by immunohistochemical staining and image analysis technique. Ang II increased the cell proliferation compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The expression of PCNA and c-myc was increased compared with the control group (p < 0.01). After pretreatment with emodin, the above indexes were obviously reduced compared with the Ang II group (p < 0.01). These findings suggested that emodin inhibited VSMCs proliferation induced by Ang II. Inhibition of the expression of c-myc might be correlated with the inhibitory effects.
Wang
ShiJun
S
Department of Cardiovascular Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, HangZhou, China 310003.
Liu
YunYing
Y
Fan
FangHua
F
Yan
Jie
J
Wang
XingXiang
X
Chen
JunZhu
J
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004642:Emodin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D000804:Angiotensin II; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D004642:Emodin