Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effect of candesartan(Cand) on high glucose-induced proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells(A7r5).MethodsA7r5 cells cultured in vitro were divided into a glucose control group,a high glucose group,and three Cand treatment(low-,medium-,high-dose) groups.The proliferation of A7r5 was detected with Cell Counting Kit-8 assay.Cell cycle progression was determined with flow cytometry.The expressions of p-c-Raf,p-MEK1/2,and p-ERK1/2 were determined with Western blot.ResultsCompared with those of the glucose control group,the proliferative activity of A7r5 cells was significantly enhanced and the proportion of the cells in S phase of cell cycle significantly increased(30.503±1.521%) in high glucose group(both p<0.01);the protein expressions of p-c-Raf(1.060±0.087),p-MEK1/2(1.155±0.064),and p-ERK1/2(1.924±0.065) were significantly increased(all p<0.05).There were significant decreases in the proliferative activity,the proportion(21.677±1.690%) of the cells in S phase of cell cycle,and the protein expressions of p-c-Raf(0.658±0.039),p-MEK1/2(0.821±0.049),and p-ERK1/2(0.795±0.028) were observed for A7r5 of cells treated with high-dose Cand compared with those of the high glucose group(all p<0.05).ConclusionCand can antagonize high glucose-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells and the mechanism of the effect maybe relate to inhibitions in cell cycle and phosphorylation of the three protein.