Effects of aspirin on the high concentration of glucose and insulin-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Objective To study the effect and related mechanisms of aspirin on high concentration of glucose and insulin-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation. Methods The primary VSMCs were cultured by planting Wistar rat thoracic vascular smooth muscle pieces. The proliferation of VSMCs was induced by high concentration of glucose and insulin.The VSMCs were divided into the control group,high concentration of glucose and insulin group (HGI),HGI + aspirin(0.5,1.25,2.50 mmol/L)groups. Methylthiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) colorimetric assay was used to measure the VSMCs proliferation. The content of nitric oxide (NO) in cell culture medium was detected by NO kit. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the cell cycle. Results The largest anti-proliferative effect on VSMCs of aspirin was 2.50 mmol/L concentration on the fifth day in this experiment,compared with the HGI,a very significant inhibition (P0.01); HGI + aspirin (2.50 mmol/L) group can be very signi-ficantly increased the content of NO that declined by high concentration of glucose and insulin in cell culture medium (P0.01); Compared with the HGI group,aspirin (2.50 mmol/L) can increase the proportion of G0/G1 of VSMCs significantly (P0.05),while the period of DNA synthesis (S phase) cells in a significant reduction in the proportion (P0.05). Conclusion Aspirin can dose-dependently inhibit high concentration of glucose and insulin-induced VSMCs proliferation,the point of inhibition is at the G0/G1 phase,and promote the NO production of VSMCs.