Reduction of adhesion molecule production and alteration of eNOS and endothelin-1 mRNA expression in endothelium by Euphorbia hirta L. through its beneficial β-amyrin molecule

Molecules. 2014 Jul 18;19(7):10534-45. doi: 10.3390/molecules190710534.

Abstract

The inflammatory reaction in large blood vessels involves up-regulation of vascular adhesion molecules such as endothelial cell selectin (E-selectin), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1. These vascular dysfunctions are associated with the development of atherosclerosis. β-Amyrin, an active component of Euphorbia hirta L., has potent anti-inflammatory effects. So far, its preventive effects against the expression of inflammatory mediator-induced adhesion molecules have not been investigated. Endothelial cells (SVEC4-10 cell line) were treated with 50% RAW conditioned media (i.e., normal SVEC4-10 culture media contains 50% of lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage culture media) without or with β-amyrin (0.6 and 0.3 µM). The production levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 in the SVEC4-10 cells were measured with ELISA assay kits. Under the same treatment conditions, expression of endothelin (ET)-1 and endothelial type of NO synthase (eNOS) mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR and agarose gel. With β-amyrin, the 50% RAW conditioned media-induced E-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 levels as well as ET-1 gene expression were all suppressed. β-Amyrin treatment also restored the 50% RAW conditioned media-suppressed eNOS mRNA expression. These data indicate that β-amyrin is potentially useful in preventing chronic inflammation-related vascular diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Endothelin-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Euphorbia / chemistry*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / biosynthesis*
  • Oleanolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Oleanolic Acid / chemistry
  • Oleanolic Acid / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Endothelin-1
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Oleanolic Acid
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • beta-amyrin