[Effects of Astragalus Membranaceus Injection on TNF-alpha-induced release of inflammatory factors from HUVECs and the molecular mechanisms].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of Astragalus Membranaceus Injection on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).


METHODS
Cultured passage 2 HUVECs were stimulated with TNF-alpha with or without a 2-h Astragalus Membranaceus Injection treatment. The expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) subunit p65 were evaluated by immuncytochemistical method, and the levels of p65 in the nuclei and the protein Ikappabetaalpha in the cytoplasm were evaluated by Western blotting. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in the cell culture were determined with ELISA.


RESULTS
TNF-alpha induced the activation of NF-kappaB and increased the expressions of IL-6 and sICAM-1 in HUVECs. The activation of NF-kappabeta by TNF-alpha was suppressed by Astragalus Membranaceus Injection in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Astragalus Membranaceus Injection can inhibit the TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL-6 and sICAM-1 by suppressing NF-kappabeta activation, suggesting its protective effect on the endothelial function.
Ye
Ze-Bin
ZB
Department of Emergency Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China. ywqjsyzb@sina.com
Wang
Fan-Jun
FJ
Zhang
Gang-Qing
GQ
Yang
Wang-Min
WM
Qin
Hai-Sen
HS
Liu
Xing-Tao
XT
D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; C498143:RELA protein, human; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1