Qiliqiangxin improves oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced human coronary artery endothelial cells injury

Qiliqiangxin (QL) has protective effect for the cardiovascular diseases treatment. This study aim to evaluate the effect of QL on the cell viability, cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in oxidized LDL (oxLDL)-induced Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAECs). HCAECs were treated with QL (0-1μg/ml) and oxLDL (150 μg/ml). The HCAECs viability was detected by cell proliferation assay and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The HCAECs apoptosis was evaluated by the annexin V-FITC assay. The activity of caspase-3 of HCAECs was measured by colorimetric caspase-3 assay. Cell migration assay and capillary-like tube formation assay on Matrigel were performed. Treatment of HCAECs to ox-LDL (150 μg/ml) decreased cell viability, stimulated apoptosis and enhanced caspase-3 activity. In addition, treatment with QL (0.5 μg/ml) alone did not affect cell viability and LDH release. Furthermore, the treatment with QL (0.5 μg/ml) significantly increased ox-LDL (150 μg/ml) decreased cell viability. Treatment with QL (0.5 μg/ml) reduced ox-LDL-stimulated apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in HCAECs in a dose-dependent manner. QL (0.5 μg/ml) attenuated ox-LDL (150 μg/ml) abolished cell migration and tube formation. Our study demonstrated that QL prevents ox-LDLinduced HCAECs injury by decreasing the apoptosis via caspase-3 activity