title: Pycnogenol inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced nuclear factor kappa B activation and adhesion molecule expression in human vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: The transcriptional regulatory protein nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) participates in the control of gene expression of many modulators of inflammatory and immune responses, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The heightened expression of these adhesion molecules has been reported to play a critical role in atherosclerosis, inflammation, ischemic vascular disorders, diabetes, and cancer metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pycnogenol, an antioxidant phytochemical, on the activation of NF-kappa B and the induction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Gel-shift analysis of HUVEC demonstrated that pretreatment with pycnogenol exhibited a concentration-dependent suppression of TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappa B. Induction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 surface expression by TNF-alpha was dose-dependently reduced by pycnogenol. TNF-alpha significantly increased the release of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide from HUVECs. Pycnogenol dose-dependently inhibited their release. The ability of pycnogenol to inhibit NF-kappa B activation and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression suggests that this phytochemical may play an important role in halting or preventing the atherogenic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017931:DNA Primers; D005419:Flavonoids; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D013481:Superoxides; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C024070:pycnogenols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide