Protective effects of vitamin E in age-related endothelial cell injury.
Age is strongly correlated to the onset of atherosclerotic lesion formation in humans. This may be associated with an age-related increase in the susceptibility of the vascular endothelium to oxidative injury. Such injury may result in altered endothelial function as a barrier to plasma components, such as cholesterol-rich lipoprotein remnants. To investigate this hypothesis, the relationship between endothelial cell culture age, susceptibility to oxidative injury and protection against this injury by the nutrient/antioxidant vitamin E on endothelial barrier function (transfer of albumin across endothelial monolayers) was examined. An acute 24 h exposure to 30 microM linoleic acid hydroperoxide resulted in increased albumin transfer at all cell passages tested (up to passage 50). Pre-enrichment of cells with 25 microM vitamin E always protected endothelial cells against oxidized fatty acid-induced cell injury, independent of cell age. In comparison, patterns of total cell protein and DNA were not markedly influenced by experimental treatments, although age-related declines in total DNA were noted. These data suggest that the possible correlation between age and the onset of atherosclerosis may be in part related to a decrease in endothelial barrier function due to oxidative stress, permitting more blood components to enter the arterial wall. Furthermore, vitamin E may protect endothelial cells against oxidant-mediated vascular injury.
Hennig
B
B
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.
Boissonneault
G A
GA
Wang
Y
Y
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008042:Linolenic Acids; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014810:Vitamin E; C025998:13-hydroperoxylinolenic acid; D004247:DNA