title: Apigenin protects endothelial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation by decreasing caspase-3 activation and modulating mitochondrial function.
abstract: Acute and chronic inflammation is characterized by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, dysregulation of mitochondrial metabolism and abnormal immune function contributing to cardiovascular diseases and sepsis. Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest potential beneficial effects of dietary interventions in inflammatory diseases but understanding of how nutrients work remains insufficient. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of apigenin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid abundantly found in our diet, in endothelial cells during inflammation. Here, we show that apigenin reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis by decreasing ROS production and the activity of caspase-3 in endothelial cells. Apigenin conferred protection against LPS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reestablished normal mitochondrial complex I activity, a major site of electron leakage and superoxide production, suggesting its ability to modulate endothelial cell metabolic function during inflammation. Collectively, these findings indicate that the dietary compound apigenin stabilizes mitochondrial function during inflammation preventing endothelial cell damage and thus provide new translational opportunities for the use of dietary components in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. duartesanmiguel.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arango
authors.forename: Arti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parihar
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: Rumana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasmeen
authors.forename: Andrea I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Doseff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D047310:Apigenin; D053148:Caspase 3