Objective: To observe the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) signal pathway in the course of visfatin inducing human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) to secrete tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the effect of Dingxin recipe (DXR) containing serum. Method: Rats were treated with DXR to prepare DXR containing serum methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to detect the proliferation of HUVEC and the contents of TNF-α a derived from HUVEC culture supernatant were detected by the method of ELISA and the protein expression of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK in HUVEC lysate were detected by the method of Western blotting incorporated into vistation and final concentration 5% DXR containing blood serum

respectively after exerting into different concentration Risfation(0

50

100

200 μg·L-1) in different time points(0

6

12

24

48 h). Result: Compared with the control group

Visfatin(100 μg·L-1) could significantly decrease the proliferation of HUVEC and increase the TNF-α contents in HUVEC cultural supernatant. Meanwhile

it could increase p-p38 MAPK protein expression at 24 hours. Compared with the visfatin group

DXR(5%) containing serum could decrease the TNF-α contents in HUVEC cultural supernatant

at the same time

it could restrain p-p38 MAPK expression in HUVEC. Conclusion: The p38 MAPK signal pathway plays an important role in HUVEC injury induced by visfatin

the protective mechanism of DXR containing serum is related to the p38 MAPK signal pathway in endothelial cells.