Qindan-capsule inhibits proliferation of adventitial fibroblasts and collagen synthesis

Aims: Qindan-capsule (QC) is a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. We investigated the effect and mechanism of QC-containing serum on proliferation of aortal adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) and composition of extracellular matrix (ECM). We also tested whether the Smad3 signaling pathway is activated in the progress. Materials and methods: AFs were cultured by tissue explant in vitro. The proliferation of AFs induced by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and affected by QC-containing serum with high or low dose was detected by MTT. The protein and mRNA expressions of Smad3 and Procollagen I were observed by Western blot and Real-time PCR respectively. Results: Western blot and Real-time PCR revealed that after being activated by TGF-beta 1 for 24 h, the expressions of Smad3, Pho-Smad3 and Procollagen I were all higher than those in the control group. But these functions were inhibited, to some extent in different doses, by QC-containing serum. So that the proliferation of AFs which was evaluated by MTT. Conclusions: The results suggested QC-containing serum has significantly improved proliferation of AFs and composition of extracellular matrix. TGF-beta 1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be involved in the mechanism. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.