title: Anti-inflammatory effects of danshen on human vascular endothelial cells in culture.
abstract: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Besides cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules, CD40 and P-selectin play important roles as key regulators of the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis. Danshen (DS) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for therapy of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of DS with respect to possible anti-inflammatory effects. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as platelets were incubated with an extract of DS or one of its major ingredients salvianolic acid B (Sal B), tanshinone IIA (Tansh) and protocatechuic acid (Protoc) under tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or ADP stimulation. Expression of CD40 and cellular adhesion molecules (VCAM-1/ICAM-1) were assessed via flow cytometry. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte-chemoattractant-protein (MCP)-1 as well as soluble VCAM1 and ICAM-1 in the supernatants were examined via luminex based analysis. Treatment with DS attenuated TNF-α induced expression of CD40. Furthermore, the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 as well as the release of soluble VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were downregulated. In the cell supernatants we also observed a significant reduction of IL-6, IL8 and MCP-1. DS and its major ingredients, Sal B and Protoc, significantly inhibited TNF-induced expression and release of adhesion molecules, cytokines and chemokines as well as ADP-induced expression of platelet P-selectin. Because of the key roles of inflammatory mediators in the etiology of atherosclerosis, this work provides useful insight in understanding the pharmacological efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Park Am Kirschbaumhuegel, Bad Wiessee, Germany , Department of Cardiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: Quiaoling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hintermann
authors.forename: Dorette
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raaz
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurfürst
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Losert
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pflederer
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achenbach
authors.forename: Werner G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Christoph D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Garlichs
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053630:Depsides
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019007:P-Selectin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C021751:tanshinone; C028972:dan-shen root extract; C009091:protocatechuic acid; C076944:salvianolic acid B; D053630:Depsides