[Protection of vascular endothelial cells from TNF-alpha induced injury by quercetin].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of quercetin (Que) on the TNF-alpha injured human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV-304).

METHODS

The experiments were performed in culture of TNF-alpha-induced ECV-304 in vitro. Cell viability was assessed with MTT assay. Lipid peroxidation of ECV-304 was monitored as malonaldehyde (MDA) with a fluorometric assay. NO and SOD of ECV-304 were monitored with colorimetry. The expression of NF-kappaB was detected with immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

TNF-alpha inhibited the ECV-304 prolifteration. Preincubation of ECV-304 with Que for 24h before TNF-alpha exposure increased the cell viability. Que significantly decreased the level of NO and MDA and the expression of NF-kappaB, and increased the activity of SOD in TNF-alpha-induced ECV-304.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that Que can produce the protective action on TNF-alpha-induced cultured ECV-304 and its mechanism of action may be related to the decrease of NO, antioxidant effect of lipids. However, antioxidant effect might be exerted through NF-kappaB activation pathway.