Effects of Astragalus polysacharin on fibroblast proliferation and adhesion between HUVECs and white cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of Astragalus polysacharin(APS) on human fibroblast and human umbilical vein endothelia cell (HUVEC) proliferation, as well as its acts on adhesion between white cells and HUVECs. METHODS: Human fibroblasts from distal and proximal skin away the ulcer were cultured as normal fibroblasts(NF) and wounded fibroblasts(WF). MTT assay was used for detecting cell proliferation, Rose Bengal staining and fluorescence immunohistology assay were used for examining the adhesion of human polymorpho-nuclear cell(PMN) and TPH-1 to HUVECs. RESULTS: 2.44-156 mg/L APS promoted WF proliferation, and 2.44-39 mg/L APS also promoted NF proliferation, but it did not show any proliferating effect on HUVECs. APS inhibited the adhesion of PMN or TPH-1 to HUVECs induced by tumor necrosis factor(TNF). At 25-100 mg/L, it also inhibited both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in HUVECs induced by TNF. Treatment with APS for 12 h also inhibited CD44 expression in HUVECs. CONCLUSION: APS shows mitogenic activity on both human normal and wounded fibroblasts. It also exerts anti-inflammation effects by inhibiting adhesion molecule expression and adhesion of white cells to HUVECs.