Impact of daotan decoction on expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 mRNA and p38 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of daotan decoction (DTD) in the treatment of atherosclerosis by regulation of expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA through function of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase. Methods: DTD was given to SD rats at a dose of 0.9 g·kg-1·d-1 through gavage. Blood samples were obtained via the abdominal aorta of SD rats 10 days after DTD gavage and the serum was separated. Neonatal umbilical cords were used to isolate endothelial cells (HUVEC), and they were subcultured for 1 to 3 generations for use. There were 7 groups in this study normal cultured HUVEC was blank control group; cultured with 20% DTD was DTD control group; induced with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was TNF-α group; cultured with 5% DTD 10% DTD, 20% DTD and then TNF-α, were 5%, 10%, 20% DTD group, respectively; and blocked with SB203580 (p38-specific blocker) was blocking group. The impact of DTD on expression of ICAM-1 mRNA and p38 stimulated by TNF-α in HUVEC were observed with the real-time PCR and Western blot. Results: Circled digit oneThe expression of ICAM-1 mRNA (1.17 ± 0.26) and p38 (0.77 ± 0.19) in the TNF-α group was significantly higher than the blank control and DTD control groups (P < 0.01); Circled digit twoAfter being treated with DTD serum, the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in the 5%, 10% and 20% DTD group were 0.97 ± 0.15, 0.85 ± 0.17, and 0.73 ± 0.10 respectively, and 0.64 ± 0.19 in SB203580 group, which decreased gradually, and the three DTD groups and SB203580 group had significant difference compared with TNF-α group(P < 0.05). While the expression of p38 in the 5%, 10% and 20% DTD group were 0.69 ± 0.21, 0.59 ± 0.27, 0.47 ± 0.11 respectively, and 0.36 ± 0.09 in the SB203580 group, which also decreased gradually. And there was significant difference in 20% DTD group and SB203580 group compared with TNF-α group(P < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between the level of p38 and ICAM-1 mRNA (r = 0.706, P < 0.01). Conclusion: DTD inhibits TNF-stimulated expression of ICAM-1 mRNA through the regulation of p38 expression in HUVEC, which may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of arterial atherosclerosis.