Inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on angiogenesis in adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of tetrandrine (an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese medicine Stephania tetrandrae S. Moore) were investigated in terms of the angiogenesis in an adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation model of mouse and tube formation of rat vascular endothelial cells (EC). Tetrandrine (7.5- 30mg/kg) reduced the carmine content, granuloma weight, inflammatory cell count and pouch fluid weight in the inflammation model in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory pattern of tetrandrine on these parameters was similar to that of hydrocortisone. The inhibitory effect of tetrandrine on carmine content was 0.56-fold smaller than that of hydrocortisone. Tetrandrine (0.1- 10 μM) also inhibited 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS)-stimulated tube formation of vascular EC. The inhibitory effect of tetrandrine on tube formation was more than 100-fold greater than that of hydrocortisone. Tetrandrine (10-30 nM) inhibited the tube formation stimulated by interleukin (IL)-1α and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB to a greater extent than FBS- stimulated tube formation. The inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on the action of IL-1α and PDGF-BB were non-competitive. These results demonstrate that tetrandrine may reduce the tube formation of EC in the angiogenic process through inhibition on the post-receptor pathway of IL-1α and PDGF- BB in chronic inflammation.