title: Effects and mechanisms of docosahexaenoic acid on the generation of angiopoietin-2 by rat brain microvascular endothelial cells under an oxygen- and glucose-deprivation environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the generation of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) by rat brain microvascular endothelial cells under an oxygen- and glucose-deprivation environment (OGD), and its relationship, if any, with cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annexin V and propidium iodide apoptosis assay was used to detect apoptosis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect Ang-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) content. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect Ang-2 and VEGF mRNA expression. Western blot was used to detect expression of COX-2 protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DHA reduced the apoptosis rate (P = 0.026) and decreased the secretion of Ang-2, VEGF, PGE2, and PGI2 (P = 0.006, P = 0.000, P = 0.002, P = 0.004 respectively). The relative expression of Ang2 and Vegf mRNA, as well as COX-2 expression, also decreased (P = 0.000, P = 0.005, P = 0.007 respectively). These effects were antagonized by GW9662 (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ antagonist). COX-2 protein expression levels were positively correlated with Ang2 and Vegf mRNA expression levels (γ = 0.69, P = 0.038 and γ = 0.76, P = 0.032, respectively). Ang-2 and VEGF mRNA levels were positively correlated with Ang-2 (γ = 0.84, P = 0.012) and VEGF (γ = 0.71, P = 0.036) secretion levels respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHA reduced apoptosis induced by an OGD environment, thus decreasing Ang-2 and VEGF synthesis. This phenomenon was associated with a decrease in COX-2 protein expression, PGE2 and PGI2 secretion, and generation regulation via intracellular transcriptional pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Three Gorges University People's Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yichang, No. 2 Jiefang Road, Yichang, 443000 Hubei China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Three Gorges University People's Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yichang, No. 2 Jiefang Road, Yichang, 443000 Hubei China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Three Gorges University People's Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yichang, No. 2 Jiefang Road, Yichang, 443000 Hubei China.
authors.forename: Leyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Three Gorges University People's Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yichang, No. 2 Jiefang Road, Yichang, 443000 Hubei China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shu
keywords: Ang-2; COX-2; DHA; OGD environment