title: Sesamol induces nitric oxide release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
abstract: Sesamol, which is derived from sesame seed lignans, is reportedly an antioxidant. Nitric oxide (NO), the most important vascular relaxing factor, is regulated in the endothelium. In addition, NO is involved in protecting endothelium and has antiatherosclerotic and antithrombotic activities. The endothelium produces NO through the regulation of both endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and activity in endothelial cells. This study sought to investigate the effect of sesamol on NO released from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and to examine the expression and activity of eNOS. Sesamol induced NO release from endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner (from 1 to 10 microM), as measured 24 h after treatment; the expression of the eNOS gene at both transcription and translation levels; and NOS activity in endothelial cells. The content of cGMP was also increased by sesamol through NO signaling. The transcription of eNOS induced by sesamol was confirmed through the activation of PI-3 kinase-Akt (protein kinase B) signaling. The results demonstrate that sesamol induces NOS signaling pathways in HUVEC and suggest a role for sesamol in cardiovascular reactivity in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pey-Rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chingmin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tsuei-Ling
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010636:Phenols; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077191:Wortmannin; C025583:sesamol