title: Xiang-Qi-Tang and its active components exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties by inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-treated rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Xiang-Qi-Tang (XQT) is a Chinese herbal formula containing Cyperus rotundus, Astragalus membranaceus and Andrographis paniculata. Alpha-Cyperone (CYP), astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and andrographolide (AND) are the three major active components in this formula. XQT may modulate the inflammatory or coagulant responses. We therefore assessed the effects of XQT on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory model of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (RCMECs). XQT, CYP, AS-IV and AND inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and up-regulated the mRNA expression of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). XQT and CYP inhibited the secretion of tissue factor (TF). To further explore the mechanism, we found that XQT, or its active components CYP, AS-IV and AND significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 phosphorylation protein expression as well as decreased the phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 proteins in LPS-stimulated RCMECs. These results suggested that XQT and its active components inhibited the expression of inflammatory and coagulant mediators via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and NF-κB signaling pathways. These findings may contribute to future research on the action mechanisms of this formula, as well as therapy for inflammation- or coagulation-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Chang-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Peng-Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Qiao-Jia
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hai-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qian-Qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shuai-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xu-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ying-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ben-Dong
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D013925:Thromboplastin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases