Inhibitory effect of oleoylethanolamide on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin II

Purpose To investigate the inhibitory effect of oleoylethanolamide on the proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by angiotensin Ⅱand the effect on p38 signaling pathway.Methods VSMCs were primary cultured by tissue sticking method.Cell proliferation model was established by stimulation with AngⅡ.After incubation with various concentrations of OEA(5,10,20 μmol/L) for 24 h,the proliferation effect was measured by using the BrdU cell proliferation assay kit.Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry analysis and the protein expression of P-p38 and p38 was assessed using Western blotting.Results Compared with the AngⅡ group,along with the increased concentration of OEA,the proliferation of VSMCs was obviously inhibited,the cell ratio of G0/G1 phase obviously increased,and the cell ratio of G2/M phase significantly decreased.Besides,the expression of P-p38 and p38 protein decreased in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion OEA had a inhibition on the proliferation of VSMCs,and might act by down-regulating p38MAPK pathway.