Objective: To observe the effect of Qibai Pingfei capsule (QBPF) medicated serum on the proliferation of rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) under hypoxia conditions and to investigate its key molecular effects on the Ca2+/calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells 3 (NFATc3) signaling pathway.
Methods: QBPF was provided to rats via continuous gavage for 10 days. Primary rat PASMCs were cultured using the direct adherent culture method. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay was used to evaluate the effect of QBPF on PASMCs proliferation under hypoxia conditions. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to detect changes in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in PASMC-loaded Fluo-3-AM. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to detect the transcription and protein expression levels of calcineurin and NFATc3 genes in PASMCs.
Results: Compared with normoxia conditions, PASMCs proliferated at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h under hypoxia conditions. QBPF at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20% could inhibit hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation to different degrees. The inhibitory effect was most significant in the 20% QBPF group under 24 h hypoxia conditions. The concentration of [Ca2+]i in PASMCs under hypoxia was increased and [Ca2+]i was significantly decreased when co-incubated with QBPF at 5%, 10%, and 20%. Compared with normoxia conditions, the mRNA and protein expression levels of calcineurin and NFATc3 in PASMCs induced by hypoxia were up-regulated. QBPF application significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of calcineurin and NFATc3 in PASMCs.
Conclusion: QBPF can effectively inhibit hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs through down-regulation of key molecular expression via the Ca2+/calcineurin/NFATc3 pathway.
Keywords: Hypertension, pulmonary; Myocytes, smooth muscle; NFATC transcription factors; Vascular remodeling.