title: Effects of Wenxiao II decoction on the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in atherosclerotic rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of different doses of wenxiao II decoction on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in an experimental model of atherosclerosis in rabbits and to explore the mechanism by which it alleviates atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty 3-4 month-old New Zealand rabbits of both sexes were randomly divided into six groups: simvastain; model; blank; and high-dose, mid-dose, and low-dose wenxiao II decoction groups. Except for those in the blank group, all rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet. Carotid atherosclerosis was established by balloon-induced injury to the endothelium of the carotid artery in conjunction with consumption of a high-cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, all rabbits were killed to evaluate the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expressions of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly decreased in all groups except the blank group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). When compared with the simvastain group only variation of MCP-1 expression in low-dose group was not appreciable, and the differences were indistinct (P < 0.05). When comparing among wenxiao II decoction groups, MCP-1 expression in the mid- and high-dose groups was significantly lower than that seen in the low-dose group (P< 0.01), but there were no differences among three dosage groups with respect to VCAM-1 expression (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggested that high, mid, and low doses of Wenxiao II Decoction can inhibit the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1, which may prevent the formation of or stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. There may be a direct relationship between the dosage of wenxiao II decoction and its therapeutic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China. huoqingping005@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Qing-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Han-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D019413:Qi; D011817:Rabbits; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019821:Simvastatin