Anti-atherogenic effect of San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine, in cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
San-huang-xie-xin-tang (SHXXT) is a traditional Chinese medicine and it has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Since inflammation is one of the major mechanisms of atherosclerosis, we aimed to investigate anti-atherosclerotic effect of SHXXT in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).


METHODS
Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were used in the present study, and rendered atherosclerosis by adding lipopolysaccharides. We first tested the effects of SHXXT on HASMC migration and proliferation as they present the major morphological change of atherosclerosis. We also examined whether SHXXT can influence the production of several biomarkers of inflammation and atherosclerosis including reactive oxygen species (ROS), COX-2, ERK1/2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1.


RESULTS
Using the dimethyl-thiazol-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and wound repair assay, SHXXT was shown to significantly reduce HASMC proliferation and migration, respectively. From the fluorometric assay, SHXXT significantly reduced ROS production. SHXXT down regulated mRNA and protein levels for the COX-2 gene. In addition, phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels were suppressed by SHXXT suggesting HASMC division can be inhibited under pro-inflammatory condition. SHXXT significantly inhibited the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 after LPS stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that SHXXT can influence several mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis, which suggests that SHXXT may have a therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disease associated with atherosclerosis.
Department of Medical Genetics, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yung-Song
YS
Wang
Ruey-Tay
RT
Lin
Hsin-Yun
HY
Cheng
Sheau-Fang
SF
Yang
Wen-Wen
WW
Chou
Suh-Hang Hank
SH
Juo
D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C501029:San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases