[Tetrandrine on monocyte migration induced by endothelial cell-derived chemotactic factor].

The medium conditioned by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC-CM) was used as a source of chemotactic factor, and its chemotactic activity for monocytes was tested by using micropore filter assay in modified Boyden chamber. The effects of tetrandrine, a calcium antagonist, on monocyte migration induced by EC-CM were investigated. The results showed that cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells secreted a chemotactic factor for monocytes, and the monocyte migration induced by this chemoattractant could be inhibited by tetrandrine at the concentration of 10(-8)-10(-5) mol/L in a dose-dependent manner. Verapamil at the concentration of x10(-8) mol/L also showed the same effect. It is suggested that tetrandrine may inhibit monocyte migration into arterial subendothelial space through antagonism to calcium and thereby suppress atherogenesis.