Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Qufengtongluo Recipe (QFTLR) on the expressions of cell cycle regulatory
proteins in rat mesangial cells (MCs)in vitro and investigate the mechanism by which QFTLR inhibits MC proliferation.
MethodsUsing the methods of serum pharmacology, we studied the expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins in rat MCs
treated with QFTLR by laser scanning confocal microscope and immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the normal
control cells, the cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed significantly enhanced expressions of cyclin D1,
CDK2, and P21(P<0.01) and obviously lowered protein expression of P27(P<0.01). Treatment of the LPS-challenged cells with
QFTLR and benazepril both resulted in significantly attenuated expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and P21and obvious increase
of P27expression (P<0.05orP<0.01), but QFTLR produced stronger effects than benazepril in regulating of cyclinD1, P21and
P27 protein expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion QFTLR inhibits rat MC proliferationin vitro possibly by
down-regulating the cellular expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and P21and up-regulating the expression of P27protein.