Effects of tetramethylpyrazine on calcinerin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen gene expression in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM: To evaluate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) on calcineurin(CaN) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) gene expression in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) treated by angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ).METHODS: A cell proliferating model of VSMCs induced by AngⅡ was established.PCNA gene exprersion was observed by immunocytochemical staining and image analysis technique;Calcineurin(CaN) activity was detected by enzyme reaction phosphorus measurement.RESULTS: AngⅡ significantly stimulated the proliferation of VSMCs,cell proliferation activity,CaN activity and the expression levels of PCAN were higher than those in control(P0.01).While treated with TMP,the CaN activity and PCNA expression were obviously lower than those in AngⅡ group(P0.01).CONCLUSION: The VSMCs proliferation induced by AngII can be inhibited by tetramethylpyrazine significantly,and the inhibiting mechanism of TMP may be related to inhibiting CaN activity and restraining the expression of PCNA in a dose and time-dependent manner.