Abstract: AIM: To study the effects of probucol on injured endothelial cells and regenerated endothelium. METHODS: In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (huVECs), various concentration of probucol (20, 40, 80 μmol · L ^-1) were given 30 min after lysophophatidylcholine (LPC, 20 mg ·L ^-1) treatment. MTT assay and PCNA immunohistochemical staining assay were used to evaluate the proliferation of injured huVECs. The function of endothelium was estimated by measuring the relaxation response of PTA rabbits thoracic aorta rings to acetylcholine and by measuring NO and PGI2 release of cultured huVECs. RESULTS: LPC treatment for 24 h obviously inhibited huVECs proliferation and attenuated huVECs release of NO and PGI2 (P <; 0.01).Probucol (20, 40, and 80 μmol·L^-1) promoted the proliferation of injured huVECs with the growth rate from 31.7 % to 55.5 %, 59.3 % and 72.2 % respectively as shown by MTT assay.Probucol also enhanced vascular relaxation response of rabbits thoracic aorta rings to acetylcholine from 25.95 % to 66.63 %and increased NO and PGI2 release of injured huVECs. CONCLUSION: Probucol can promote proliferation and function recovery of impaired endothelial cells.;

Key words: probucol, restenosis, endothelial cell, proliferation