Inhibitory effect of tanshinones on TNF-α-induced inflammation in human aortic endothelial cells.

[Objectives] To study the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of tanshinone I,cryptotanshinone and 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I on HAECs induced by TNF-α. [Methods]Vitamin E was used as a positive control and TNF-α-induced human aortic endothelial cells（ HAECs） were selected as the inflammation model cells. The m RNA levels of IL-6,ICAM-1,VCAM-1,and NF-κB were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. The protein expression of NF-κB,ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were determined by Western blot. The adhesion of U937 to HAECs was assessed by BCECF/AM labeling assay. [Results] TNF-α-induced over-expression of IL-6,NF-κB,ICAM-1,and VCAM-1 in HAECs were down-regulated by tanshinone I（ TAN）,cryptotanshinone（ CPT） and 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I（ DHT） both in m RNA and protein levels,respectively. Meanwhile 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I and cryptotanshinone could inhibit phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and tanshinone I inhibited U937 adhesion to HAECs significantly. [Conclusions] Tanshinones could inhibit TNF-α induced inflammatory responses on HAECs and the mechanism might be related to inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and blocking NF-κB signaling pathway.