The Effects Of Aristolochic Acid On Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

[Background and Objective] An endothelium lines the entire vascular system and is composed of a monolayer of endothelial cells. The endothelial cell is not only a permerbility barrier but also a multifunctional paracrine and endocrine organ. There is considerable evidence to suggest that endothelial changes bring about deposition of proteins, lipids and proinflammatory cells, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes.Aristolochic acids (AAs) belong to a family of structurally related nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acids. The consumption of herbs containing AAs has been associated with severe nephropathy which is called aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AAN may be divided into the following three types: acute AAN, tubular dysfunctional AAN and chronic AAN (CAAN). CAAN is characterized by renal interstitial fibrosis with few infiltrated mononuclear cells, and chronically progressive renal failure. Endothelial cells swelling, thickening of interlobular and afferent arterioles is often apparent. The pathogenesis of these pathological change is not clear. Experiments were designed to detect whether AA has cytotoxic effects or active effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).[Methods] HUVEC were isolated from umbilical veins by digestion with...