title: Protective effects of eugenol against oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity and adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells.
abstract: Eugenol, a natural constituent of a number of aromatic plants and their essential oil fractions, has several biological effects. However, its protective effects against endothelial injury remain unclarified. This study investigates how eugenol affects human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dysfunction mediated by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Our results showed that the suppression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression, enhancement of adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM, and E-selectin) expression, and adherence of monocytic THP1 cells caused by a non-cytotoxic concentration (100 microg/ml) of oxLDL were ameliorated following a eugenol treatment (12.5-100 microM) in HUVECs. Eugneol also inhibited the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, intracellular calcium accumulation, and the subsequent mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation induced by oxLDL. The cytotoxicity and apoptotic features induced by a cytotoxic concentration (200 microg/ml) of oxLDL was also attenuated by eugenol. Our results suggest that eugenol may protect against the oxLDL-induced dysfunction in endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Education and Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Fen-Pi
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Tsung-Min
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ching-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wayne Huey-Herng
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Sheu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005054:Eugenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005054:Eugenol; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D002118:Calcium