ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of alpha-zearalenol on angiotensin II-induced beta3 integrin mRNA expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: The mRNA level in integrin beta3 was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Endothelial NF-kappaB activity was determined by the luciferase activity assay of plasmid NF-kappaB-LUC. RESULTS: The angiotensin II-induced beta3 integrin mRNA expression was inhibited by alpha-zearalenol and 17beta-estradiol (10 nmol/L -1 micromol/L), but not influenced by ICI 182, 780, a pure competitive antagonist for estrogen receptor or a nitric oxide inhibitor Nomega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride. Alpha-zearalenol and 17beta-estradiol suppressed the angiotensin II-induced activation of NF-kappaB in endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Alpha-zearalenol inhibits angiotensin II-induced integrin beta3 mRNA expression by suppressing NF-kappaB activation in endothelial cells.
Subject(s)
Integrin beta3/biosynthesis , NF-kappa B/antagonists & inhibitors , Phytoestrogens/pharmacology , Zeranol/analogs & derivatives , Angiotensin II/antagonists & inhibitors , Cells, Cultured , Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects , Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism , Estradiol/pharmacology , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Integrin beta3/genetics , NF-kappa B/physiology , Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Receptors, Estrogen/antagonists & inhibitors , Zeranol/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Phytoestrogens are bioactive substances existing in natural plants. They have similar molecular structure to those of estrogens. In this article we introduced their classification and sources, and elucidated their effects on heart from aspects involving cardiac function and myocardial electrophysiology. By regulating serum lipid metabolism, arterial vessels, cytokine levels, and coagulation/fibrinolysis system, phytoestrogens possess the effects of anti-atherosclerosis and may be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/prevention & control , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Phytoestrogens/pharmacology , Humans , Hyperlipidemias/prevention & control , Isoflavones/pharmacology , PhytotherapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Xianzhen tablet (XZT, a Chinese patent compound recipe) on advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) and mRNA expression of AGE-specific cellular receptor (RAGE) in renal cortex of diabetic rats in order to explore the mechanism of XZT in protecting kidney. METHODS: The diabetic rat model with persistent hyperglycemic renal damage was reproduced by streptozotocin. Fluorescent assay and RT-PCR were used to determine the content of AGEs and expression of RAGE mRNA in renal cortex in model rats, which were treated with XZT and controlled by aminoguanidine (AG) administration. RESULTS: The relative content of AGEs and RAGE mRNA expression in renal cortex of model rats 12 weeks after modeling were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05), while those in model rats treated by XZT or AG were markedly lower than those in non-treated model rats (P < 0.05), the effect of the both groups showed insignificant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: XZT could reduce the accumulation of AGEs in renal cortex of diabetic rats, down-regulate the over-expression of RAGE mRNA, with the effects similar to that of AG, the inhibition of XZT on protein non-enzymatic glycosylation might be one of the mechanisms of its effect in protecting kidney.