Astilbin inhibits high glucose‐induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration

Astiblin is a flavonoid compound extracted from Glabrous Greenbrier Rhizome, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, and show activity in antioxidant effect. In this study, we explored the role of astilbin in anti‐diabetes‐induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration. Tunica media of thoracic aortas of SD rats injected with STZ displayed a higher expression of PCNA, MMP2 and OPN, and a lower expression of SM22¦Á and Myocardin at mRNA and protein levels, administration the rats with astilbin reversed the diabetes‐induced aberrant expression of VSMCs marker genes ex vivo. Results in vitro showed that treatment rat aortic VSMCs with high glucose (25 mmol/l) for 48h led to the increase of PCNA, MMP2 and OPN, as well as the decrease of SM22¦Á and Myocardin when compared with VSMCs maintained in normal glucose (5.5 mmol/l) and D‐Mannitol (25 mmol/l). Interestingly, astilbin attenuated high glucose‐induced aberrant expression of VSMCs marker genes in vitro. Furthermore, astilbin inhibited VSMCs migration via suppression of MMP2 expression and activity. Additionally, astiblin abrogated high glucose‐induced NF¦ÊB‐DNA binding activity, but no effects on Myocardin‐SRF binding activity. Thus, our results suggest that astilbin may be beneficial for the diabetes‐induced vascular complications by inhibition of high glucose‐mediated VSMCs proliferation and migration.