Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2007 August; 28 (8): 1116-1122; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00598.x

Aim: To investigate the effects of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on the regulation of the production of endothelin (ET)-1 (including large ET-1), mRNA levels of ET-1, endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), endothelin-A receptor (ET_A) and endothelin-B receptor (ET_B) induced by TNF-α in rat brain microvascular endo-thelial cells (BMVEC).

Methods: The ET-1 release (including large ET-1) into the culture medium was determined by enzyme immunoassay. The levels of ET-1, ECE-1, ET_A, and ET_B mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. Endothelin receptor binding was also tested.

Results: The induction of ET-1 release by TNF-α from cultured BMVEC was dose-dependently reduced by Tan IIA, but large ET-1 levels progressively increased in response to Tan IIA; the mRNA expression of ET-1 was unaffected. Tan IIA also caused a decrease in ET_A receptor mRNA and ECE-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Endothelin receptor binding was unaltered in BMVEC stimulated with TNF-α alone or a combination of TNF-α and Tan IIA.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Tan IIA may inhibit ET-1 production in TNF-α-induced BMVEC through the suppression of ECE-1 synthesis.

Keywords: tanshinone IIA; endothelin-1; TNF-α; brain microvascular endothelial cells