Alisol A 24-acetate, a triterpenoid extracted from Alisma orientale, has shown anti-atherosclerotic actions and many studies have proved that oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) could promote proliferation of aorta smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) which are closely related to atherosclerosis (AS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alisol A 24-acetate on the proliferation of VSMCs isolated from the thoracic aorta of rats induced by ox-LDL. VSMCs were induced by ox-LDL(50 mg·L⁻¹) to establish the proliferation model and intervened by alisol A 24-acetate (5, 10, 20 mg·L⁻¹) for 12, 24 and 48 h. Then the proliferation of VSMCs was detected by MTT assay; protein expression levels of VSMCs PCNA, cyclinD1, cyclinE, p21, p27 and VSMCs PCNA, p21and p27 mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively. The results showed that ox-LDL could induce the proliferation of VSMCs (P<0.05), increase the protein expression levels of PCNA, cyclinD1 and cyclinE in the VSMCs (P<0.05) and inhibit the protein and mRNA expression levels of p21 and p27 (P<0.05). As compared with the model group, alisol A 24-acetate inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs in rats induced by ox-LDL and inhibited the protein expression of VSMCs PCNA, cyclinD1, cyclinE and enhanced the protein and mRNA p21 and p27 expression levels (P<0.05). The effect was more obvious with the increase of concentration of alisol A 24-acetate. These data indicate that alisol A 24-acetate can inhibit the proliferation of VSMCs induced by ox-LDL and the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting expression of cyclin protein, including cyclinD1, cyclinE, p21, p27 and so on.
Keywords: VSMC; alisol A 24-acetate; cyclin; proliferation.
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