title: [Puerarin induced apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell by mitochondrial pathway].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the contribution of mitochondrial pathway in the apoptosis induced by puerarin (PUE) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were intervened by high, middle and low dose of puerarin (1.5 x 10(-3), 1.5 x 10(-4), 1.5 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)). The change of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed. Western blot detected the expression of apoptosis-related gene Caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased in puerarin groups. Puerarin can enhance the expression of Caspase-9 and Bax protein, decrease the expression of Bcl-2 protein. Puerarin also has a concentration-dependent on the induction of PASMC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Puerarin can induce PASMC apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.
authors.affiliation: Haerbin University of Commerce, Haerbin 150076, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiejing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C506435:Casp9 protein, rat; D053453:Caspase 9; C033607:puerarin