title: Berberine suppresses in vitro migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells through the inhibitions of MMP-2/9, u-PA, AP-1, and NF-κB.
abstract: Berberine, a type of isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs, has been reported to have various pharmacological activities. Studies have demonstrated that berberine has beneficial effects on vascular remodeling and alleviates restenosis after vascular injury. However, its mechanism of action on vascular smooth muscle cell migration is not fully understood. We therefore investigated the effect of berberine on human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) migration. Boyden chamber assay was performed to show that berberine inhibited HASMC migration dosedependently. Real-time PCR and Western blotting analyses showed that levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) were reduced by berberine at both the mRNA and protein levels. Western blotting assay further confirmed that activities of c-Fos, c-Jun, and NF-κB were significantly attenuated. These results suggest that berberine effectively inhibited HASMC migration, possibly by down-regulating MMP-2, MMP-9, and u-PA; and interrupting AP-1 and NF-κB mediated signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Therapy of Peripheral Vascular, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Su-jian
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The Center of Anesthesia and Operation Room, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cai-xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Therapy of Peripheral Vascular, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: The Center of Anesthesia andOperation Room, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shao-you
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital,Beijing 100076, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qin-min
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital,Beijing 100076, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji-dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D001599:Berberine; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9