Effect of sodium ferulate on heat shock protein 27 phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of sodium ferulate on phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by angiotensin II (AngII) and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB).METHODS: Cultured VSMCs derived from rat thoracic aorta were used.The activity of HSP27 was evaluated by Western blotting with specific phospho-HSP27 antibody.RESULTS: The phosphorylation of HSP27 in response to AngII and PDGF-BB was suppressed by sodium ferulate in a dose-dependent manner,with maximal inhibition rates of 39.0% (P<0.05) and 56.8% (P<0.01) respectively at concentration of 10-4 mol/L.CONCLUSION: HSP27 phosphorylation induced by AngII and PDGF-BB in VSMCs may be significantly inhibited by sodium ferulate.