Abstract

Huangqi decoction, one of the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, has been found useful for the treatment of liver fibrosis. This study focused on investigating Huangqi decoction serum effect on growth, migration and angiogenesis of rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. We administered Huangqi decoction (20 mg/100 g) into Sprague-Dawley rats orally once daily for 3 d consecutively. Then, Huangqi decoction serum of rats was obtained. Initial Huangqi decoction serum was considered a high concentration. The initial Huangqi decoction serum was diluted one time and three times respectively to create a medium and low concentration. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats, and the Huangqi decoction serum was obtained. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells without any treatment were used as control. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells treated by vascular endothelial growth factor A (40 ng/ml) served as vascular endothelial growth factor A group. Huangqi decoction serum hindered protein kinase B and mammalian target of rapamycin protein phosphorylation and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 II/microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 I and Beclin-1 protein expression in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (p<0.01). SC79 and 3MA treatment reversed high-concentration of Huangqi decoction serum inhibition on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and promotion on autophagy in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (p<0.01). Huangqi decoction serum hindered proliferation and migration of rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells via angiogenesis inhibition by promoting protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin-dependent autophagy. Huangqi decoction might be applied to be an effective drug to treat patients' liver fibrosis in the future.