Effect Of Treatment Of Tonifying Qi, Promoting Blood Circulation And Resolving Phlegm On Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinases And Matrix Metalloproteinase Tissue Inhibitors In Macrophage Derived Foam Cells

Objective: To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and matrix metalioproteinase tissue inhibitors(TIMPs) in macrophages and macrophage-derived foam cells. To observe the effect of Simvastatin and TCM treatment of tonifying qi, promoting blood circulation and resolving phlegm on MMPs and TIMPs expression. To provide the clinical basis for reducing the incidence of the acute coronary syndrome.Methods: After being cultured with oxLDL, mouse macrophages became macrophage-derived foam. The expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 in macrophages and foam cells were analyzed with RT-PCR. Cultured macrophage-derived foam cells with Amlodipine and Chinese herbs which having the functions of tonifying qi, promoting blood circulation and resolving phlegm, the expressions of MMPs, TIMPs in foam cells were observed.Results: (1) Macrophages could express MMP-2, 9 and TIMP-1, 2 in physiological condition. The expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were much more than the others. (2)Macrophages' cytophgacytosis of oxLDL made macrophages become macrophage-derived foam cells in vitro. The expressions of MMPs and TIMPs were more in macrophage-derived foam cells than in macrophages. (3) Simvastatin could inhibit the expression of MMP-2, 9 and TIMP-1, 2 in foam cells completely. (4)In TCM, the treatment of tonifying qi, promoting blood circulation and resolving phlegm is much better than the others. The method could not only inhibit the expression of MMPs, but also promote TIMPs expression to some extent.Conclusions: The activity of gelatinase of macrophages is mainly the activity of MMP-9. Macrophages can cytophgacytose oxLDL, and become macrophage-derived foam cells in vitro. Macrophage-derived foam cells havemore vigorous metabolism than macrophages, which may play more important roles than macrophages during the process of arteriosclerosis. Simvastatin can inhibit the expression of TIMPs though the expression of MMPs, which is not benefit to make atherosclerotic plaques stable. The treatment of tonifying qi, promoting blood circulation and resolving phlegm is better than the other therapies. This method can regulate the expression of MMPs and TIMPs for the benefit of human being, make atherosclerotic plaque stable, prevent them from rupture and reduce the incidence of the acute coronary syndrome.