Salvianolic Acid A Attenuates Cell Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, Akt and NF-κB Activation in Angiotensin-II Induced Murine Peritoneal Macrophages

We discuss the role of Salvianolic acid A(SAA), one of the main effective components in Salvia Miltiorrhiza (known as 'Danshen' in traditional Chinese medicine), in apoptotic factors, the production of oxidative products, and the expression of Akt and NF-κB in angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated murine macrophages. In the present study, Ang II was added to mice abdominal macrophages with or without addition of SAA. After cell identification, apoptosis was measured by DNA strand break level with TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. Intracellular concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Western blotting determined the expression of Akt, p-Akt, NF-κB and p-NF-κB. Ly294002 (the inhibitor of PI3K) was used to determine the mechanism of SAA. Ang II (1 μM) significantly increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells and Bax expression, but reduced Bcl-2 expression. These effects were antagonized when the cells were pretreated with SAA. SAA decreased MDA, but increased SOD in the cell lysis solution treated with Ang II. It markedly reduced the level of p-NF-κB, as also p-Akt, which was partly blocked by Ly294002. SAA prevents Ang IIinduced apoptosis, oxidative stress and related protein expression in the macrophages. It also inhibits the activation of Akt.