 |
| Research article summary (published 17 Feb 2009): |
Ginkgo biloba extract attenuates oxLDL-induced oxidative functional damages in endothelial cells.
Full Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process with increased oxidative stress in vascular endothelium. Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE), extracted from Ginkgo biloba leaves, has commonly been used as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular and neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate how GbE protects vascular endothelial cells against the proatherosclerotic stressor oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with GbE (12.5-100 microg/ml) for 2 h and then incubated with oxLDL (150 microg/ml) for an additional 24 h. Subsequently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxidant enzyme activities, adhesion to monocytes, cell morphology, viability, and several apoptotic indexes were assessed. Our data show that ROS generation is an upstream signal in oxLDL-treated HUVECs. Cu,Zn-SOD, but not Mn-SOD, was inactivated by oxLDL. In addition, oxLDL diminished expression of endothelial NO synthase and enhanced expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM, and E-selectin) and the adherence of monocytic THP-1 cells to HUVECs. Furthermore, oxLDL increased intracellular calcium, disturbed the balance of Bcl-2 family proteins, destabilized mitochondrial membrane potential, and triggered subsequent cytochrome c release into the cytosol and activation of caspase-3. These detrimental effects were ameliorated dose dependently by GbE (P < 0.05). Results from this study may provide insight into a possible molecular mechanism underlying GbE suppression of the oxLDL-mediated vascular endothelial dysfunction.
Author information
Author/s: Ou, Hsiu-Chung (HC); Lee, Wen-Jane (WJ); Lee, I-Te (IT); Chiu, Tsan-Hung (TH); Tsai, Kun-Ling (KL); Lin, Chih-Ying (CY); Sheu, Wayne Huey-Herng (WH);
Affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung-Kang Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan. whhsheu(-atsign-)vghtc.gov.tw
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) (J Appl Physiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-May; vol 106 (issue 5) : pp 1674-85
Dates: Created 2009/05/05; Completed 2009/06/11;
PMID: 19228986, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/11/2009, IMS Date: 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.