Objective: To observe the effects of aspirin on vascular endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and on the activity of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation.
Methods: ECV 304 cells cultured in vitro were treated with aspirin (1, 2, 5, and 10 mmol/L, respectively) and observed for their proliferation in comparison with the control group. The ratio of cell proliferation was determined by non-radioactive MTS/PES assay. The expression of phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK protein was evaluated by the immunoblotting technique using anti-p44/42 phospho-MAPK antibody.
Results: The proliferation rate of the endothelial cell was 1.533+/-0.286 in the control group, and 0.459+/-0.107, 0.708+/-0.125, 0.953+/-0.149 and 1.253+/-0.225 in aspirin-treated groups corresponding to aspirin concentrations of 10, 5, 2 and 1 mmol/L, respectively. It was shown that aspirin significantly inhibited the vascular endothelial cell proliferation at the concentration above 1 mmol/L (P<0.05), in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The expression of phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK protein was significantly inhibited by aspirin.
Conclusions: Aspirin decreases vascular endothelial cell proliferation, and arrest of endothelial cell proliferation may be an important mechanism by which aspirin produces protective effect against acute coronary disease.