[Celastrol in the inhibition of neovascularization].

OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibition effect of celastrol on neovascularization. METHODS: The effect of celastrol on the in vitro proliferation of endothelial cell of vessel (ECV) was examined by MTT assay. The effect of celastrol on endothelial cell migration, tube formation on Matrigel and Chick chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis was also examined. Matrigel plug assay was used to evaluate the effect of celastrol on angiogenesis in vivo. RESULTS: The proliferation of ECV was inhibited significantly by celastrol with IC(50) being 1.33 microg/ml. Celastrol inhibited endothelial cell migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. Celastrol also inhibited angiogenesis both in Matrigel plug of mouse model and in chick chorioallantoic membranes. CONCLUSION: Celastrol, which can inhibit angiogenesis, could be developed as an antiangiogenic drug.

[Several monomes from Tripterygium wilfordii inhibit proliferation of glioma cells in vitro].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Researches indicated that Tripterygium wilfordii possess antitumor activity. The current study was designed to investigate inhibitive effect of several monomes of Tripterygium wilfordii on the proliferation of glioma cells. METHODS: The effect of three monomes from Tripterygium wilfordii on the proliferation of glioma cell lines SHG44, C6, and U251 in vitro was examined by using MTT assay. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 after treatment of triptolide and celastrol. RESULT: The proliferation of glioma cells was remarkably inhibited by triptolide and celastrol. They both increased expression of Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2 in the SHG44 cells. CONCLUSION: Triptolide and celastrol inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells in vitro, which was associated with promoting the expression of Bax and inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 and accelerating cell apotosis.