title: Crocetin Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Crocetin is a readily bioavailable and bioactive compound extracted from Saffron. Previous studies indicated its various biomedical properties including antioxidant and anti-coagulation potencies. However, its effect on inflammation, notably within the cardiovascular system, has not been investigated yet. In the present study, we utilized human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) to elucidate the effect of Crocetin on vascular inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability and toxicity were evaluated by MTT and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively. Pro-inflammatory chemokine <under>M</under>onocyte Chemoattractant <under>P</under>rotein-1 (MCP-1) and <under>I</under>nter<under>l</under>eukin-8 (IL-8) expressions were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. With fluorescence labeled U937 cells, we examined immune cell adhesion to the inflamed HUVEC in vitro, which was further confirmed by the H&amp;E staining in the murine subcutaneous endothelium in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in HUVECs, Crocetin ameliorated cell cytotoxicity, suppressed MCP-1 and IL-8 expressions through blocking NF-κB p65 signaling transduction. Moreover, Crocetin inhibited immune cells adhesion and infiltration to inflamed endothelium, which is a key step in inflammatory vascular injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Crocetin, a natural herb extract, is a potent suppressor of vascular endothelial inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wenrui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids