cardiovascular-agents and myricitrin

Increased expression of adhesion molecules is thought to serve an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Myricitrin, a bioactive compound of Myrica cerifera, has been demonstrated to exhibit anti‑atherogenic effects. However, the effect of myricitrin on the expression of adhesion molecules in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of myricitrin on tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α)‑induced expression of adhesion molecules in VSMCs in vitro. The results revealed that myricitrin inhibited the adhesion of human THP‑1 monocyte cells to TNF‑α‑stimulated mouse MOVAS‑1 VSMC cells, and reduced the expression of adhesion molecules in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells. In addition, myricitrin significantly inhibited the TNF‑α‑induced expression of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB p65, and prevented the TNF‑α‑induced degradation of nuclear factor of κ light chain enhancer in B‑cells inhibitor α. Furthermore, myricitrin inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that myricitrin inhibits the expression of vascular cell adhesion protein‑1 and intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells potentially via the NF‑κB signaling pathway. Therefore, myricitrin may be an effective pharmacological agent for the prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Cardiovascular Agents; Cell Line; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Mice; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Myrica; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; THP-1 Cells; Transcription Factor RelA; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Blood vessel endothelial dysfunction induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and vasculopathy. The ox-LDL-elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS) release has been assumed to serve a critical function in endothelial damage. Myricitrin (from Myrica cerifera) is a natural antioxidant that has strong anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nociceptive activities. However, the protective effect of myricitrin on ROS-induced endothelial cell injury and its related molecular mechanisms have never been investigated. This study demonstrates that myricitrin can inhibit ox-LDL-induced endothelial apoptosis and prevent plaque formation at an early stage in an atherosclerotic mouse model. The administration of myricitrin in vivo decreases the thickness of the vascular wall in the aortic arch of ApoE-/- mice. In vitro study shows that ox-LDL-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis can be reduced upon receiving myricitrin pre-treatment. Treatment with myricitrin significantly attenuated ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting LOX-1 expression and by increasing the activation of the STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways. At the same time, our result demonstrates that myricitrin treatment optimizes the balance of pro/anti-apoptosis proteins, including Bax, Bad, XIAP, cIAP-2, and survivin. Our study suggests that myricitrin treatment can effectively protect cells from ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, which results in reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation. This result indicates that myricitrin can be used as a drug candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Topics: Animals; Aortic Diseases; Apolipoproteins E; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Atherosclerosis; Biopsy; Cardiovascular Agents; Cells, Cultured; Diet, High-Fat; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Flavonoids; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Scavenger Receptors, Class E; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Time Factors; X-Ray Microtomography