Ajoene inhibits the activation of human endothelial cells induced by porcine cells: implications for xenotransplantation.

Ajoene, is an organosulfur compound derived from garlic that strongly inhibit platelet aggregation, proliferation of human lymphocytes induced by phytohemagglutinin, and in general, blocks membrane-mediated signaling of cell activation. As a thrombotic microangiopathy frequently complicates procedures designed to induce pig-to-baboon chimerism by infusion of large amounts of pig progenitor cells in baboons, it was thought that ajoene might be useful to prevent such complication. For such purpose, we studied the effects of ajoene on the activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) induced by pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p-PBMC). Co-cultures of p-PBMC with HUVEC results in activation of the HUVEC as shown by over-expression of E-selectin and vascular cells adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Ajoene (25 microm) strongly inhibits HUVEC activation induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or p-PBMC as shown by a down regulation of VCAM-1 and of E-selectin expression. After 5 or 8 h of pre-treatment with Ajoene, HUVEC incubated with TNF and p-PBMC showed an E-selectin or VCAM-1 expression, respectively, at levels similar to the positive control indicating that the inhibitory effect is transient. Ajoene at concentration of 25 microm or lower did not affect HUVEC viability. Based on the finding that Ajoene has a strong, although transient, inhibitory effect on the activation of the endothelium induced by pig cells and its known anti-platelet activity, it is suggested that this garlic compound could be useful to prevent the development of microangiopathy and thrombotic disorders seen in primates infused with pig cells.