title: Effect of a Congolese herbal medicine used in sickle cell anemia on the expression of plasminogen activators in human coronary aortic endothelial cells culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aqueous extract of Ceiba pentandra, which is used for the management of sickle cell anemia (SCA) in DR Congo, exhibits antithrombin response by activation of Heparin cofactor II in vitro. This study examines the effect of the plant on the fibrinolytic activity to understand whether it can influence the coagulation-fibrinolysis system, since fibrinolysis disorder is one of the contributing causes of thrombotic crises in SCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fibrinolysis proteins were determined by enzyme-immunoassay in the conditioned medium of cultured endothelial cells after treatment with the extract. Electrophoresis-zymography and RT-PCR tests were conducted to examine the activity and the RNA synthesis of these proteins, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the extract decreased the activity of both tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). However, it was revealed that this effect was not the result of an inhibition of their biosynthesis by endothelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the foregoing, it was revealed that the extract inhibited the secretion of the fibrinolytic proteins without affecting their synthesis by endothelial cells. Thus, the extract may not accelerate the digestion of fibrin clot resulting from thrombotic disorders in SCA.
authors: Organization for Frontier Research, Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan.
authors: Marie Miezi
authors: MM
authors: Nsimba
authors: Chika
authors: C
authors: Yamamoto
authors: José Nzunzu
authors: JN
authors: Lami
authors: Yumiko
authors: Y
authors: Hayakawa
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Kaji
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D035164:Ceiba; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010960:Plasminogen Activators