The aim of the present study was to explore whether an ultra-filtration extract from Xin Mai Jia (XMJ), a Chinese medicinal formulation, has a protective effect on human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) injury models induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and to consider the mechanism and efficacy of the therapeutic action of XMJ on atherosclerosis. HASMCs were injured by H2O2 and then exposed to various concentrations of XMJ. The morphological changes, growth, proliferation, migration and cytokine release of HASMCs were detected using 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a scratch adhesion test. H2O2 significantly promoted the proliferation of HASMCs. The ultra-filtration extract from XMJ was observed to significantly attenuate the morphological changes of injured HASMCs, reduce the expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and increase the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP). XMJ has clear anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and significantly inhibits the proliferation and migration of HASMCs.
Keywords: Xin Mai Jia; human aortic smooth muscle cell; inflammation; migration; proliferation.