Effect of Tongxinluo on the interaction between COX-2 and iNOS in vascular injury of rats with deficiency of vital energy or qi stagnation / 中成药

AIM:To investigate COX-2 and iNOS protein contents and their interaction in vascular endothelium injury of rats with deficiency of vital energy or qi stagnation,and the prevetion and treatment of Tongxinluo.METHODS:The model of vascular endothelium injury of rats with deficiency of vital energy or qi stagnation was established by using high L-Methionine,with load-carrying swimming or being fastened respectively.Western blotting was used to analyze protein contents of COX-2 and iNOS,co-immunoprecipitation and laser confocal microscopy were used to analyze the interaction between COX-2 and iNOS.Optical microscope and electronic microscope were used to evaluate pathological changes in vascular endothelium.RESULTS:The protein contents of COX-2 and iNOS,and their interaction increased significantly in deficiency of vital energy group and qi stagnation group,in accord with injury of vascular endothelium.Compared with deficiency of vital energy group and qi stagnation group respectively,their protein contents decreased and their interaction was weakened in Tongxinluo groups.CONCLUSION:When protein contents of COX-2 and iNOS increase and their interaction enhance after vascular endothelium injury of rats with deficiency of vital energy or qi stagnation,initiate exacerbations,Tongxinluo could attenuate the alterations and protect vascular endothelium from injury.