Beneficial effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in a rat model of vascular injury.
1. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, was able to reduce neointimal formation in a model of endothelial injury of rat carotid artery (balloon angioplasty). Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between neointima formation and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and we correlated NF-kappaB activation to the expression of inducible isoform of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) in injured carotids. 2. In control group a significant proliferation of neointima was observed 14 days after balloon angioplasty, which was correlated to an increase of NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity as well as p50/p65 nuclear levels compared to those observed in the carotids from sham-operated rats. Furthermore, NF-kappaB activation was correlated to increased COX-2, but not beta-actin, protein expression. 3. Treatment of rats for 14 days with CAPE (3, 10, 30 mg x kg(-1)) caused a significant inhibition of all the parameters assayed, except beta-actin protein expression. 4. These results indicate that treatment with CAPE may lead to a reduction of neointima formation by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and suggest that this agent may have therapeutic relevance for the prevention of human restenosis.
Maffia
Pasquale
P
Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Salerno, via Ponte Don Melillo Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
Ianaro
Angela
A
Pisano
Barbara
B
Borrelli
Francesca
F
Capasso
Francesco
F
Pinto
Aldo
A
Ialenti
Armando
A
D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects*
D000199:Actins; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D007527:Isoenzymes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol