title: Effect of long-term piceatannol treatment on eNOS levels in cultured endothelial cells.
abstract: Piceatannol (3, 3', 4, 5'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a naturally occurring phytochemical found in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds. Previously, we demonstrated that piceatannol has acute vasorelaxant effects in rat thoracic aorta. It was suggested that endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) might be involved in piceatannol-induced acute vasorelaxation. Here, we investigated the expression of eNOS in EA.hy926 human umbilical vein cells after long-term treatment with piceatannol, and compared this effect with that of resveratrol, an analog of piceatannol. Long-term treatment with piceatannol up-regulated eNOS mRNA expression and increased eNOS protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, piceatannol increased the levels of phosphorylated eNOS. Treatment with resveratrol also increased eNOS expression, but to a lesser degree than piceatannol. These findings indicate that piceatannol may improve vascular function by up-regulating eNOS expression.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Division, Morinaga and Company Limited, 2-1-1 Shimosueyoshi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Shinpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanae
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013267:Stilbenes; C041525:3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D000077185:Resveratrol