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Purpose: To study the inhibitory effect of different doses of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) combined with the beta-blocker, propranolol (Pro) on hemangioma endothelial (EOMA) cells. Methods: EOMA cells were cultured in vitro with varying doses of TMP and Pro (5, 10, 20 and 40 uM). The effect of treatments on cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, while cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, p-mTOR), total-mammalian target of rapamycin (t-mTOR, p-p70S6) and total-p70 ribosomal protein S6 (t-p70S6) proteins were determined using Western blot. Results: MTT data showed that when used alone, TMP had no significant inhibitory effect on EOMA cells (p > 0.05). However, when TMP was combined with propranolol, there was significant inhibition of EOMA cells, and that the inhibition is dependent on TMP dose. Flow cytometry results showed that the combination of TMP and Pro induced EOMA cell apoptosis dose-dependently (p < 0.05). Moreover, TMP dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6 in EOMA cells, and enhanced Bax expression, but downregulated Bcl-2 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that TMP enhances the inhibitory influence of Pro p-mTOR and pp-70S6 in EOMA cells in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, TMP may enhance Pro-induced inhibition of the growth of endothelial cells, and promote apoptosis through suppression of activation of PI3K/AKT signal route. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of TMP/Pro combination for the treatment of hemangioma.

BACKGROUND Infantile hemangioma (IH) can lead to severe complications. The 595-nm pulsed dye laser is poorly effective on thick and deep IH. Long-pulsed alexandrite laser has the proper wavelength of 755 nm and a relatively deep penetration. Thus, this may be a safe and effective treatment method for relatively deep or thick IH. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine whether 595-nm pulsed dye laser and 755-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser in sequential therapy are safer and more effective for relatively deep or thick hemangioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective study. A total of 194 infantile IH patients (thickness greater than 2 mm and less than 8 mm) were randomly divided into two groups: control group (treated using 595-nm pulsed dye laser) and experimental group (treated by sequential therapy with 755-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser and 595-nm dye laser). RESULTS The control group had a total effective rate of 36.1%, while the experimental group had a total effective rate of 76.3%. Enumeration data were compared by X2 -test. The results were considered statistically significant at P