Tartary buckwheat protein-derived peptide AFYRW alleviates H2O2-induced vascular injury via the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway

Abstract

Tartary buckwheat protein-derived peptide (Ala-Phe-Tyr-Arg-Trp, AFYRW) is a natural active peptide that hampers the atherosclerosis process, but the underlying role of AFYRW in angiogenesis remains unknown. Here, we present a system-based study to evaluate the effects of AFYRW on H₂O₂-induced vascular injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were co-incubated with H₂O₂ for 2 h in the vascular injury model, and AFYRW was added 24 h in advance to investigate the protective mechanism of vascular injury. We identified that AFYRW inhibits oxidative stress, cell migration, cell invasion, and angiogenesis in H₂O₂-treated HUVECs. In addition, we found H₂O₂-induced upregulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and nuclear translocation of NF-κB decreased by AFYRW. Taken together, AFYRW attenuated H₂O₂-induced vascular injury through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Thereby, AFYRW may serve as a therapeutic option for vascular injuries.

Keywords: AFYRW; PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway; Tartary buckwheat; Vascular injury.