title: Capsaicin protects endothelial cells and macrophage against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced injury by direct antioxidant action.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. It is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, leukocyte activation, and the production of inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Capsaicin, a biologically active compound of the red pepper and chili pepper, has several anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hypolipidemic biological effects. However, its protective effects on foam cell formation and endothelial injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative activity of capsaicin, and determined the mechanism by which capsaicin rescues human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from oxLDL-mediated dysfunction. The anti-oxidative activity of capsaicin was defined by Apo B fragmentation and conjugated diene production of the copper-mediated oxidation of LDL. Capsaicin repressed ROS generation, as well as subsequent mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, cytochrome c expression, chromosome condensation, and caspase-3 activation induced by oxLDL in HUVECs. Capsaicin also protected foam cell formation in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Our results suggest that capsaicin may prevent oxLDL-induced cellular dysfunction and protect RAW 264.7 cells from LDL oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Shuen
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Ni
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yih-Shou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute and Department of Food Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 11 Pu-tzu Lane, Pu-tzu Road, Taichung 406, Taiwan. Electronic address: scchu@ctust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002211:Capsaicin
keywords: Apoptosis; Atherosclerosis; Capsaicin; HUVECs; OxLDL