Effects of usnic acid on the proliferation and migration activity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts

Abstract

Objective To Explore the effect of usnic acid on the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFBs) . Methods HSFBs were isolated and cultured in vitro, and their morphological features were analyzed. Different concentrations of usnic acid (0, 5, 10, 20, 50 μmol/L) were added to the HUVECs and HSFBs, control group was treated with Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), after culture for 48 h, the proliferation activity of cells was detected with the MTS kit. The migration ability of two cells was analyzed by wound healing assay. The experimental data were analyzed by SPSS19.0 software, with P<0.05 as the statistical significance. Results Compared with the control group (100%), 5, 10, 20, 50 μmol/L usnic acid could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HUVECs, and the cell viability was reduced to (91.67±10.99)%, t=0.068, P>0.05; (40.68±8.87)%, t=5.280, P<0.01; (33.97±2.12)%, t=1.140, P<0.01; (20.39±0.84)%, t=8.280, P<0.01. respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, 20 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L usnic acid could inhibit the proliferation of HSFBs, cell viability was (76.16±11.03)% and (51.59±6.82)% respectively. 1, 5, 10 μmol/L usnic acid had no inhibitory effect on HSFBs cell proliferation. The migration of HUVECs was inhibited by 1, 10, 20 μmol/L of usnic acid (81.26±10.82, t=0.000, P<0.01; 71.81±3.96, t=3.780, P<0.01; 54.91±8.47, t=5.280, P<0.01). Meanwhile, usnic acid has no inhibition effect on HSFBs migration. Conclusion Usnic acid had the ability to inhibit HUVECs and HSFBs proliferation, and the ability to inhibit HUVECs migration. Key words: Usnic acid; Human umbilical vein endothelial cells; Human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts; Cell proliferation; Cell migration