Baicalin Inhibits the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by Platelet-derived Growth Factor

Abstract: To investigate the effects of baicalin on the proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and the action mechanism of baicalin. Flow cytometry， immunocytochemistry， Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed， respectively. The results showed that proliferation and migration of VSMCs induced by PDGF were significantly inhibited by baicalin in a concentration-dependent manner. The expression of proliferation- and migration-related proteins——PCNA， VCAM-1， ICAM-1， cyclinE， and CDK2 decreased markedly in baicalin-treated VSMCs. Baicalin treatment resulted in an increased cell population in the G0/G1-phase and a decreased distribution in S phase. Co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that the formation of cyclinE-CDK2 complex was reduced， and p27 level was elevated in the baicalin-treated VSMCs. Taken together， our results demonstrated that baicalin is a natural active compound which inhibits the proliferation and migration of VSMCs， and arrests cell cycle progression via inhibiting the cyclinE-CDK2 complex formation and up-regulating p27 expression.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2010.01.0014