The flavonoid quercetin induces apoptosis and inhibits JNK activation in intimal vascular smooth muscle cells
- Cardiac, Vascular and Inflammation Research, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom) and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
- Cardiac, Vascular and Inflammation Research, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom)
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Universidad de Granada (Spain)
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid (Spain)
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London (United Kingdom)
Quercetin, the most abundant dietary flavonol, exerts vasodilator, anti-hypertensive, and anti-atherogenic effects and reduces the vascular remodelling associated with elevated blood pressure. Here, we have compared the effects of quercetin in intimal- and medial-type rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in culture. After 48 h, quercetin reduced the viability of a polyclonal intimal-type cell line derived from neonatal aorta but not of a medial-type cell line derived from adult aorta. These differential effects were similar in both proliferating and quiescent VSMC. Quercetin also preferentially reduced the viability of intimal-type over medial-type VSMC in primary cultures derived from balloon-injured carotid arteries. The effects of quercetin on cell viability were mainly dependent upon induction of apoptosis, as demonstrated by nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and were unrelated to PPAR{gamma}, pro-oxidant effects or nitric oxide. The expression of MAPKs (ERK, p38, and JNK) and ERK phosphorylation were not different between intimal- and medial-type VSMC. p38 phosphorylation was negligible in both cell types. Medial-type showed a weak JNK phosphorylation while this was markedly increased in intimal-type cells. Quercetin reduced JNK phosphorylation but had no consistent effect on ERK phosphorylation. In conclusion, quercetin preferentially produced apoptosis in intimal-type compared to medial-type VSMC. This might play a role in the anti-atherogenic and anti-hypertensive effects of quercetin.
- OSTI ID:
- 20854394
- Journal Information:
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 346, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.05.198; PII: S0006-291X(06)01281-2; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Intimal smooth muscle cells are a source but not a sensor of anti-inflammatory CYP450 derived oxylipins
Positive regulation of the Egr-1/osteopontin positive feedback loop in rat vascular smooth muscle cells by TGF-{beta}, ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK signaling