title: A Unique Combination of Nutritionally Active Ingredients Can Prevent Several Key Processes Associated with Atherosclerosis In Vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease that leads to more global mortalities each year than any other ailment. Consumption of active food ingredients such as phytosterols, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and flavanols are known to impart beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease although the combined actions of such agents in atherosclerosis is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to screen a nutritional supplement containing each of these active components for its anti-atherosclerotic effect on macrophages in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The supplement attenuated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 in human and murine macrophages at physiologically relevant doses. The migratory capacity of human monocytes was also hindered, possibly mediated by eicosapentaenoic acid and catechin, while the ability of foam cells to efflux cholesterol was improved. The polarisation of murine macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype was also attenuated by the supplement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The formulation was able to hinder multiple key steps of atherosclerosis development in vitro by inhibiting monocyte recruitment, foam cell formation and macrophage polarisation towards an inflammatory phenotype. This is the first time a combination these ingredients has been shown to elicit such effects and supports its further study in preclinical in vivo models.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joe W E
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Cultech Limited, Baglan Industrial Park, Port Talbot, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Iveta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garaiova
authors.affiliation: Cultech Limited, Baglan Industrial Park, Port Talbot, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sue F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.affiliation: Cultech Limited, Baglan Industrial Park, Port Talbot, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daryn R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dipak P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ramji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044948:Flavonols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D044948:Flavonols; D010840:Phytosterols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002784:Cholesterol