Protective effect of theaflavins on homocysteine-induced injury in HUVEC cells in vitro.
A model of homocysteine-induced injury in vascular endothelial cells was established to evaluate the protective role of theaflavins on homocysteine-injured human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The cells were co-incubated with 3 concentrations of theaflavins (5, 10, or 20 mg/L) and 0.5 mM homocysteine for 24 hours. The morphology and viability of the cells were determined, and the DNA damage was detected by a comet assay. Superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, and endothelin-1 were measured. The results showed that theaflavins can reduce the changes in and damage of homocysteine-injured HUVECs, increase the viability of homocysteine-injured HUVECs, and alleviate DNA damage induced by homocysteine. These results indicate that theaflavins can inhibit homocysteine-induced injury of HUVECs. Further studies showed that theaflavins may reduce the production of homocysteine-induced reactive oxygen species and partly modulate the secretory dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells caused by homocysteine. This finding indicates that the mechanism by which theaflavins inhibit homocysteine-induced injury may relate to their antioxidant activity and the regulation of the secretion of endothelium-derived factors. These findings suggest that theaflavins may be beneficial in the prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Department of Nutrition and Health Care, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Wenxiang
W
Wang
Yan
Y
Sun
Jin
J
Liu
Jieying
J
Wang
Yuchen
Y
Li
Hong
H
Li
Wenchang
W
Zhang
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000633:toxicity; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D044946:Biflavonoids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006710:Homocysteine; C056068:theaflavin; D002392:Catechin