Study on the effects of ferulic acid on the vascular smooth muscle cell migration in vitro / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of ferulic acid on the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and its correlated mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VSMCs were in vitro cultured. Under the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced conditions, the VSMCs migration were detected using the scratch test and the invasion assay after intervened by ferulic acid. The effects on the mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase, (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were detected using RT-PCR. The effects on the protein expressions of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 were detected using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Ferulic acid (10(2) ng/mL and 10(3) ng/mL) could inhibit VEGF-induced VSMCs migration. (2) Ferulic acid (10(2) ng/mL and 10(3) ng/mL) could down-regulate the VEGF-induced VSMCs migration by inhibiting MMP-9 mRNA expression. (3) Ferulic acid (10(2) ng/mL and 10(3) ng/mL) up-regulated VEGF-induced VSMCs TIMP-2 protein expressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ferulic acid (10(2) ng/mL and 10(3) ng/mL) could inhibit VEGF-induced VSMCs migration by inhibiting the MMP-9 mRNA expression, and increasing the TIMP-2 protein expression.</p>