title: Xiongshao capsule promotes angiogenesis of HUVEC via enhancing cell proliferation and up-regulating the expression of bFGF and VEGF.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the angiogenic effect of the Xiongshao capsule (XSC) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms mediating its biological effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum pharmacology was applied in this study, in which different doses of XSC were administrated to rats orally and then XSC-containing serum (XSC-S) was collected for the following in vitro experiments. The viability of HUVEC was determined by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell density was observed via phase-contrast microscopy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis with propidium iodide staining was performed to determine cell cycle phase. Cell migration was determined by wound-healing method. Capillary tube formation by HUVEC was examined using ECMatrix gel-based assay. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression levels were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  XSC-S dose-dependently stimulated proliferation of HUVEC by promoting the cell cycle G1 to S progression. In addition, XSC-S treatment dramatically increased the migration and capillary tube formation of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, XSC-S enhanced the expression of VEGF and bFGF at both mRNA and protein levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XSC can promote several features of angiogenesis in endothelial cells through up-regulating the expression of bFGF and VEGF, suggesting that XSC may be a potential novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases.
authors: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Jiu-Mao
authors: JM
authors: Lin
authors: Jin-Yan
authors: JY
authors: Zhao
authors: Qun-Chuan
authors: QC
authors: Zhuang
authors: Zhen-Feng
authors: ZF
authors: Hong
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C528128:xiongshao; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen