VEGF induced hyperpermeability in bovine aortic endothelial cell and inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B

AIM: To examine the effect of recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the low density lipoprotein(LDL) permeability of bovine a ortic endothelial cells (BAEC) and the inhibitory effect of salvianolic aci d B in vitro. METHODS: The confluence BAEC monolayers were cultured with no rmal medium and with medium containing VEGF or salvianolic acid B at variou s concentrations and for various time periods. The iodine labeled LDL flux across the monolayers was then performed, and the radioactivity was measure d by SN-695 automatic liquid scintillation counter. RESULTS: Addition of pu rified human recombinant VEGF to the BAEC monolayers could significantly in crease the permeability of the monolayer to I-125-LDL (P < 0.01). The perme ability-increasing activity of VEGF on the BAEC monolayers was both dose an d time dependent. Salvianolic acid B could markedly inhibit the VEGF-induce d hyperpermeability in BAECs (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: VEGF plays a role in th e formation and development of atherosclerosis, and salvianolic acid B has inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced hyperpermeability in BAEC.