[Effects of Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.


METHODS
HUVECs were cultured in vitro. Bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at concentration of 320 U/mL and Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL were used to culture with HUVECs. And HUVECs in blank control group were cultured with culture solution only. After 24-hour culture, the content of VEGF in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression of VEGFR-2 was detected by immunocytochemical staining and Western-blotting.


RESULTS
Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula at 0.4 mg/mL, the same as bFGF, increased VEGF content in the HUVEC supernatant and the number of VEGFR-2-positive HUVECs. Expression of VEGFR-2 protein in high-dose Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula group was up-regulated as compared with the blank control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula can promote HUVEC proliferation and secretion of VEGF, as well as the expression of VEGFR-2 protein, which may be one of the mechanisms of Radix Ginseng and Radix Notoginseng formula in promoting angiogenesis.
Lei
Yan
Y
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China. leiy999@163.com
Tian
Wei
W
Zhu
Lin-qun
LQ
Yang
Jing
J
Chen
Ke-ji
KJ
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
D036145:Ginsenosides; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2