Protective effects of qidantongmai tablets on anoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM: To explore the protective mechanisms of qidantongmai tablet (QDTMT) for anoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HuVECs). METHODS: Cells were obtained from infant umbilical cord for primary cultivation and they were then identified by morphological character. The prepared serum of QDTMT was added to the passage of HuVEC. Endothelial cells were divided into three groups: normoxia control, normal saline and QDTMT group. The apoptosis rate of HuVECs was observed in flow cytometry (FCM) assay. Using immunofluorescence microscope, we examined the cellular distribution of VEGFR2 in hypoxic HuVECs. RESULTS: We found the characteristic Weible-Palade bodies under microscope in cultured HuVECs. FCM assay showed that the apoptosis rate of hypoxic HuVECs was higher than in normoxia control, whereas the apoptosis rate was higher in normal saline group than in QDTMT group (P<0.05). VEGFR2 expression level of HuVECs was higher in QDTMT group than in normal saline group. CONCLUSION: Under hypoxic condition, QDTMT may exert protective effects on anoxic HUVECs through enhancing VEGFR2 expression.