title: DaoTan decoction (DTD) inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), p53 and p21, in human umbilical vein endothelia cells (HUVECs).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DTD is a Chinese herb prescription used for centuries to treat atherosclerosis or dizziness. Previous studies show that DTD could inhibit ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-α. However, its mechanism has never been clearly described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the hypothesis that DTD might inhibit TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression through regulating the expression of p53 and p21.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were orally treated with DTD for 3 d (2.3 g/kg per day), and then the serum was collected. HUVECs were cultured and stimulated by TNF-α with or without DTD serum (5, 10, and 20%). The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and the expression of p53 and p21 was examined by western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICAM-1 mRNA levels induced by TNF-α were significantly reduced from 23 to 47%, and the expression of p53 and p21 mRNA levels were significantly reduced from 13 to 43% and 14 to 42%, as the concentration of DTD serum increased. In western blot, TNF-α-induced the expression of p53 and was inhibited from 15 to 53%, by DTD serum in a concentration-dependent manner. TNF-α-induced expression of p21 was inhibited from 2 to 37%, by DTD serum in a concentration-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DTD has a function of "dissolving phlegm", thus it is chosen for the treatment of atherosclerosis. This study demonstrated that DTD could significantly inhibit the expression of ICAM-1, p53 and p21, which are important factors of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study indicates the pharmacological basis for treatment of atherosclerosis with DTD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China .
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ningqun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C528579:daotan; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
keywords: Aging; atherosclerosis; dissolving phlegm; serum pharmacology; traditional Chinese medicine