Coumaric acid induces mitochondrial damage and oxidative-mediated cell death of human endothelial cells

Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2013 Sep;13(3):301-6. doi: 10.1007/s12012-013-9205-3.

Abstract

Evidence that higher natural antioxidants (NA) intake provides cardiovascular protection is contradictory. The endothelium plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular homeostasis, and for this reason, the molecular events resulting from the interaction of NA with endothelial cells (ECs) are actively investigated. Here, we show that moderately high doses of coumaric acid (CA) induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ECs death. Treatment of ECs with cyclosporine A, a mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor, prevented the oxidative-mediated cell damage indicating mitochondrial involvement in CA-induced ECs impairment. CA-induced intracellular ROS generation was counteracted by the specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 inhibitor sulfaphenazole (SPZ). SPZ also prevented CA-induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ECs death, implicating CYP2C9 in mediating the cellular response upon CA treatment. Our results indicate that moderately high doses of CA can promote CYP2C9-mediated oxidative stress eliciting mitochondrial-dependent ECs death and may pave the way toward mechanistic insight into NA effects on cardiovascular cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / metabolism
  • Cell Death / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coumaric Acids / pharmacology*
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sulfaphenazole / pharmacology

Substances

  • Coumaric Acids
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sulfaphenazole
  • Cyclosporine
  • CYP2C9 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases