Taohong Siwu (TSW) decoction enhances angiogenesis by regulation of VHL/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway
Abstract Background: The incidence of bone fracture and bone-related diseases is increasing year by year. Angiogenesis plays vital role in fracture healing and bone repair. In this study, we assessed the effect of Taohong Siwu (TSW) decoction on angiogenesis by treatment of isolated rat aortic endothelial cell with TSW-containing serum. Method: First, TSW-containing serum was prepared from male Sprague-Dawley by intragastrically administration of TSW decoction. Then, isolated aortic endothelial cells were treated with different dose of TSW-containing serum. The effect of TSW-containing serum on the viability/proliferation of aortic endothelial cells were examined by MTT assay. The effects of TSW-containing serum on endothelial cell invasion, migration/spreading were detected by trans-well assay and scratch/wound-healing assay respectively. In addition, the effect of HIF-1α inhibitor on TSW-induced cell invasion and migration was also assessed. Moreover, the effect of TSW-containing serum on the expression of HIF-1α signaling pathway related protein, including HIF-1α, VHL and VEGF was detected by qRT-PCR and western-blot. Results: Our results showed that TSW decoction significantly increased the endothelial viability, invasion and wound-healing in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, these enhanced effects induced by TSW were attenuated by HIF-1α inhibitor. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that TSW-containing serum increased the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in a dose-dependent manner, while decreased the expression of VHL slightly. These effects induced by TSW were reversed by HIF-1α inhibitor. Conclusion: In summary these results for the first time suggested that TSW decoction enhances the angiogenesis by regulating of VHL/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway.