Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the proliferation of rat glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) induced by LPS and the levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (I CAM-1).METHODS: Different concentrations of TMP were put in the cultured rat GMCs in vitro after induced by LPS.Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.The levels of ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistology.RESULTS: The proliferation of MC induced by LPS was inhibited significantly by TMP with a dose-dependant manner.In the cell cycle, TMP increased the cells in G₀/G₁ phase and decreased the cells in S phase, and the ICAM-1 expression level was decreased.CONCLUSION: LPS-induced proliferation of MC is inhabited significantly by TMP.It blocks G₀/G₁ phase into S phase and inhibited the ICAM-1 expression.

Key words: tetramethylpyrazine, mesangial cells, proliferation, intercellular adhesion molecule-1