Abstract.
The transcriptional regulatory protein nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) participates in the control of gene expression of many modulators of inflammatory and immune responses, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The heightened expression of these adhesion molecules has been reported to play a critical role in atherosclerosis, inflammation, ischemic vascular disorders, diabetes, and cancer metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pycnogenol, an antioxidant phytochemical, on the activation of NF-κB and the induction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Gel-shift analysis of HUVEC demonstrated that pretreatment with pycnogenol exhibited a concentration-dependent suppression of TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB. Induction of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 surface expression by TNF-α was dose-dependently reduced by pycnogenol. TNF-α significantly increased the release of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide from HUVECs. Pycnogenol dose-dependently inhibited their release. The ability of pycnogenol to inhibit NF-κB activation and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression suggests that this phytochemical may play an important role in halting or preventing the atherogenic process.
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Received 22 November 1999; received after revision 8 February 2000; accepted 4 March 2000
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Peng, Q., Wei, Z. & Lau*, B. Pycnogenol inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor kappa B activation and adhesion molecule expression in human vascular endothelial cells . CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 57, 834–841 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000180050045
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000180050045