OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huoxue Injection (HXI, a Chinese herbal preparation consisted of red sage, chuanxiong, safflower and red peony root) on the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injured by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

METHODSModel of injured cell was established by adding ox-LDL into the culture of HUVECs, and the model cells were intervened with HXI. The adhesive percentage of the model cells to monocytes was determined by protein quantification; mRNA and protein expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTSAfter HUVEC being treated with ox-LDL for 12 h and 24 h, its adhesion rate to monocytes increased, with the mRNA and protein expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in HUVEC enhanced significantly, showing significant differences as compared with those in the normal control (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). HXI could significantly reverse the above-mentioned changes dose-dependently, showing that these parameters in the HXI intervened cells significantly different to those in the untreated model cells respectively.

CONCLUSIONHXI could inhibit the adherence of endothelial cells to monocytes by way of down-regulating the endothelial superficial adhesion molecules, so as to display its protection on endothelial cells, which should be helpful for reducing or suppressing the formation of atherosclerosis.