Abstract:Aim To investigate the effect of Tanshinone ⅡA on endothelial cells’ cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the relative mechanisms. Methods Human aortic endothelial cells were incubated in vitro and then co-cultured with angiotension Ⅱ (100 nmol/L),Tanshinone ⅡA (1 μmmol/L) and no drugs respectively for 10 minutes,1 hour and 2 hours.The expressions of COX-2 mRNA were measured by real time-PCR and COX-2,p38MAPK,p-p38MAPK,NF-κB and p-NF-κB protein levels were measured by Western blot assay. Results AngiotensionⅡ could induce the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein (P<0.01) as the same as the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and NF-κB (P<0.01).Incubating human aortic endothelial cells with angiotensionⅡ and Tanshinone ⅡA suppressed the expression of COX-2 (P<0.01) and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and NF-κB was also decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion Tanshinone ⅡA could suppress the expression of COX-2 and it may be achieved through inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and NF-κB.