Study Of Traditional Chinese Medicine On Atherosclerosis-related Gene Expression And Regulation Role

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is an important factor in forming atherosclerotic plaque. From the discovery of oncogene on, scientists find there are close relations between oncogenes and atherosclerosis (As). Many studies have indicated that oncogenes'expression increases obviously as As occurs; some factors such as cholesterol can also promote its'expression. For example: compared to the normal VSMCs, the expression of myc, fos in SMCs of atherosclerotic plaque reinforces. Endothelin (ET) can promote the fission and proliferation of VSMCs. Several studies showed that the expression of c-myc mRNA increased before the entrance of3H-TdR and addition of VSMC's number. That's to say, ET can promote VSMCs'proliferation by increasing some oncogenes'expression. Thus we investigate the levels of c-myc and ET mRNA in the cultured VSMCs. In addition, As is a generalized disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), belonging to Root vacuity and Manifestation excess. Heart, spleen and kidney are 2 the Root, qi stagnation, blood stasis and phlegm accumulation are the Manifestation. Treating the Root involves fortifying the spleen and boosting qi, enriching yin and nourishing the blood, supplementing and boosting the liver and kidney; treating the Manifestation involves quickening the blood and transforming stasis, softening hardness and dissipating binds, dispersing food and transforming phlegm, freeing the bowels and transforming turbidity. Herbs selected according to these principles can resist As through clinical and experimental studies. For example, Xue Guang Tong can inhabit the proliferation of VSMCs by influencing the expression of c-myc mRNA. In our test, we select Sodium Tanshinone Ⅱ a Sulfonate (TN Ⅱa), Chuanxiongzine hydrochloride and the extraction of Ganoderma, lucidum (triterpene) to observe their effects. During the experiment, the models of cultured VSMCs induced by Angeotensin Ⅱ (107mol/L) were established. The cells Were randomly divided into six groups. After giving them suitable treatment, extract total RNA, use RT-PCR to analysis the results. The results are: all of the three herbs can inhabit the excessive expression of c- myc, ET mRNA in the VSMCs, but can make them return to normal.