[Effect of the sera of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression and secretion in U937 monocyte-derived macrophages].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the sera of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo on the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in U937 monocyte-derived macrophages.


METHODS
Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by high-cholesterol feeding, and the serum was obtained from the rabbits after administration of the aqueous solution of Tongxinluo or simvastatin by gavage. U937 monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with the sera at different concentrations for 24 hours, and the changes in MMP-9 and TIMP-1 gene expression and secretion were detected by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.


RESULTS
The serum of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo concentration-dependently inhibited the expression and secretion of MMP-9 in U937 macrophages, but did not affect TIMP-1 expression or secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Tongxinluo may stabilize the atherosclerotic plaques by inhibiting the expression and secretion of MMP-9.
Liu
Jin-lai
JL
Department of Cardiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. lj.lai@medmail.com.cn
Zhu
Qiang-feng
QF
Hao
Bao-shun
BS
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044967:Serum; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020298:U937 Cells
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; C513941:tongxinluo; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9