Effect of tongxinluo on oxidative stress and intimal hyperplasia lesions after vascular adventitial injuryy

AIM:To investigate the effects of tongxinluo (TXL) on intimal hyperplasia lesions induced by adventitial injury and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Models of vascular adventitial injury were established by combining collagenase digestion and mechanical dissection after a 2-week high-cholesterol diet. TXL group and atorvastatin group received the respective drugs for 12 weeks. HE staining was used to examine morphological changes in vessels after adventitial injury and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of α-actin, CD68, collagen I and collagen III. RQ-PCR was used to measure expressions of mRNA of p22phox, a subunit of NADPH oxidase. RESULTS: Both TXL and atorvastatin inhibited intimal lesions significantly. Compared with those in the control group, expressions of α-actin, collagen I and collagen III increased in both TXL group and atorvastatin group, but expression of mRNA of p22phox was reduced significantly. CONCLUSION: Tongxinluo reduces and stabilizes intimal hyperplasia lesions induced by adventitial injury, possibly through inhibiting oxidative stress.