title: The effect of tetramethylpyrazine on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
abstract: Tetramethylpyrazine has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The underlying mechanism of cardioprotective effects, however, remains to be elucidated. Here, using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we have assessed the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage. After pre-incubation with tetramethylpyrazine (50, 100 and 150 microg/ml) for 24 hr., viability loss in H(2)O(2)-induced HUVECs (76.5% of the control level, p < 0.05, at 400 microM of H(2)O(2) for 12 hr.) was restored in a concentration-dependent manner, and the maximal recovery (88.7% of the control level, p < 0.05) was achieved with tetramethylpyrazine at 150 microg/ml. The production of reactive oxygen species was suppressed by measuring fluorescent intensity of 2',7'-dichorofluorescein (83.1% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Tetramethylpyrazine also increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (144.1% and 118.3% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). In addition, tetramethylpyrazine reduced levels of malonaldehyde, intracellular nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase (83.8%, 91.2% and 78.7% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Furthermore, pre-incubation of tetramethylpyrazine with HUVECs for 24 hr. resulted in reduction of apoptosis and removal of cell cycle arrest in the S phase (56.6% and 59.7% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.01, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Altogether, these results suggest that tetramethylpyrazine has a protective effect on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in HUVECs due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiu-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yong-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Song-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011719:Pyrazines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine