Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by serum from rats treated orally with Gastrodia and Uncaria decoction, a traditional Chinese formulation.
OBJECTIVE
This study was to investigate the effect of serum from rats treated orally with GUD on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation in vitro.


METHODS
Cell proliferation was measured by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and proto-oncogene c-myc were measured by immunochemical staining and image analysis. Griess reagent were used to detect nitric oxide (NO) level. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) level was measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
GUD serum (2.5%-10%) inhibited VSMCs proliferation in a dose and time-dependent manner. GUD serum inhibited the expression of PCNA and c-myc. Moreover, GUD serum increased nitric oxide (NO), and decreased Endothelin-1 (ET-1) level in culture medium.


CONCLUSIONS
GUD serum exhibited directly inhibitory effect in VSMCs proliferation. Inhibiting the expression of PCNA and c-myc, increasing NO level and decreasing ET-1 level might be associated with the antiproliferative effect.
Wang
ShiJun
S
Department of Cardiovascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of ZheJiang University, HangZhou 310003, China.
Chen
Ying
Y
He
DongDong
D
He
LiRen
L
Yang
YuMin
Y
Chen
JunZhu
J
Wang
XingXiang
X
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D031668:Gastrodia; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044967:Serum; D032070:Uncaria
D019332:Endothelin-1; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D009569:Nitric Oxide