Buyang Huanwu decoction promotes angiogenesis of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation reperfusion injury via activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on angiogenesis of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMECs) after oxygen-glucose deprivation reperfusion (OGD/R) injury. Methods: RBMECs were pretreated with BYHWD containing serum 24 h before OGD/R injury was induced. Cells were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group, BYHWD group (provided BYHWD containing serum) and LY294002 group [treated with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 for 1 h before provided BYHWD containing serum]. The cell viability, migration and tube formation abilities of RBMECs were detected by CCK-8, scratch wound healing, Transwell migration and tube formation assays, respectively. The protein expression levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, protein kinase B (AKT), p-AKT, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by Western blotting. Results: Compared with model control group, cell viability, migration and tube formation abilities of RBMECs were significantly improved in BYHWD group (all P<0.01), the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, HIF-1α and VEGF were up-regulated (all P<0.05); while above effects were blocked by LY294002. Conclusion: BYHWD can promote angiogenesis of RBMECs after OGD/R injury, which may be related to the increased protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF through activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.