[Neferine protects endothelial cells against damages induced by LPC and relationship with asymmetric dimethylarginine].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of neferine against damages of endothelial cells induced by lysophos-phatidylcholine (LPC) and the relationship with asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).


METHODS
The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC-12) were treated with LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h to establish the model of endothelial cells damages; HUVECs were prior exposed to neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1) ) for 1 h, and then exposed to LPC in the presence of the neferine for 24 h. At the end of the experiment, the cultured medium was collected for measuring the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), aleic dialdehyde (MDA) as well as ADMA and the cells were collected for measuring the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).


RESULTS
Compared with control group, exposure of endothelial cells to LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h significantly increased the concentration of MDA and ADMA in the medium and the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly decreased the concentration of NO in the medium. Neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1)) significantly inhibited the elevated concentration of MDA, ADMA as well as the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly attenuated the decreased level of NO induced by LPC.


CONCLUSIONS
Neferine can protect the endothelial cells against damages induced by LPC and the protective effect is related to the decrease of the concentration of ADMA.
Zhang
Sai-Dan
SD
Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. zhangsaidanli@126.com
Peng
Zhen-Yu
ZY
Liu
Shao
S
Pei
Zhi-Fang
ZF
Chen
Feng
F
Yang
Liu
L
D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C057222:neferine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D001120:Arginine