Effect of berberine on PPAR_α-NO signalling pathway in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by angiotensin IV

Figures & data

Figure 1. Effect of berberine (BBR) on VSMCs proliferation induced by angiotensin IV (Ang IV). Ang IV (0.1 nmol/L) stimulation promoted significant VSMCs proliferation, which was displayed by increasing OD value at A₄₉₀ and total protein content. Treatment with BBR (10, 30 and 100 μmol/L) significantly inhibited VSMCs proliferation induced by Ang IV in a concentration-dependent manner. MK 886 (0.3 μmol/L) could abolish the effects of BBR at 30 μmol/L. Results are represented by mean ± SEM, n = 6. **p < 0.01 vs control group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs Ang IV group; △p < 0.05 vs Ang IV + BBR at 30 μmol/L. ‘+’ or ‘−’: treatment with or without relevant reagent.

Figure 2. Effect of berberine (BBR) on the expression of PPARα at the mRNA and protein level in angiotensin IV (Ang IV)-stimulated VSMCs. In Ang IV-treated VSMCs, the expression of PPARα decreased at the mRNA and protein levels. BBR (30 μmol/L) treatment markedly elevated PPARα mRNA and protein expression, which were significantly blocked by MK 886 (0.3 μmol/L). Results are represented by mean ± SEM, n = 4. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs control group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs Ang IV group; Δp < 0.05, ΔΔp < 0.01 vs Ang IV + BBR group. ‘+’ or ‘−’: treatment with or without relevant reagent.

Figure 3. Effect of berberine (BBR) on eNOS mRNA expression in angiotensin IV (Ang IV)-stimulated VSMCs. The expression of eNOS mRNA was significantly decreased in Ang IV-induced VSMCs, which was counteracted by BBR at 30 μmol/L. MK 886 (0.3 μmol/L) could abolish the effect of BBR. Results are represented by mean ± SEM, n = 4. **p < 0.01 vs control group; ##p < 0.01 vs Ang IV group; △p < 0.05 vs Ang IV + BBR group. ‘+’ or ‘−’: treatment with or without relevant reagent.

Figure 4. Effects of berberine (BBR) on NOS activity and NO content in angiotensin IV (Ang IV)-stimulated VSMCs. NOS activity and NO level were significantly decreased from the culture medium of the VSMCs treated with Ang IV, which were counteracted by BBR at 30 μmol/L. The rescue effects of BBR were abolished by MK 886 (0.3 μmol/L). Results are represented by mean ± SEM, n = 6. **p < 0.01 vs control group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs Ang IV group; △p < 0.05 vs Ang IV + BBR group. ‘+’ or ‘−’: treatment with or without relevant reagent.