Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of a modified Dahuang Zhechong Pill(MDZP) on the angiogene sis of rhesus choroid-retina endothelial(RF/6A cells and its preliminary mechanism.METHODS:A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-car boxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazol ium(MTS) method was used to assess the effect o a MDZP on RF/6A cell proliferation induced by vas cular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Transwell in serts were used to assess the effect of the MDZP on RF/6A cell migration.Matrigel was used to asses the effect of the MDZP on the tube formation of RF 6A cells.Western blotting and quantitative re al-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reac tion(RT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression,respectively,of VEGF and matri metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) in RF/6A cells treatedwith the MDZP.RESULTS:RF/6A cell proliferation induced by VEGF was inhibited by 0.2 mg/mL MDZP.At 0,12.5,25 and 50 mg/mL MDZP,the number of cells that migrated through Transwell membranes was 73.33± 4.51,61.33±4.04,28.67±6.66 and 17.67±4.16,respectively,and the number of tubes formed in Matrigel was 20.33±0.58,13.33±1.53,11.00±1.00 and 1.33±0.58,respectively.At 100 and 200 mg/mL MDZP,the protein and mRNA expression of VEGF and MMP-2 were inhibited in RF/6A cells.At 400 mg/mL MDZP,the expression of VEGF mRNA and MMP-2 protein were inhibited in RF/6A cells.CONCLUSIONS:MDZP inhibits the angiogenesis of RF/6A cells via the suppression of proliferation,migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells.Inhibition of the protein and mRNA expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in RF/6A cells may be an important mechanism.

Key words: Modified dahuang zhechong pill, Rhesus choroid-retina endothelial cell line, Proliferation, Migration, Tube Formation, Angiogenesis, Choroidal neovascularization, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Matrix metalloproteinase-2