Background: In patients with hypertension the haemorrhage into carotid atherosclerotic plaque increases risk of plaque destabilization and rupture. Our previous study showed that oleacein, a secoiridoid present in extra virgin olive oil, enhanced uptake of haemoglobin-haptoglobin complex and change macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2.
Purpose: The aim this study was to investigate a potential role of oleacein in attenuation of carotid plaque destabilisation ex vivo.
Methods: Samples of atherosclerotic plaque were harvested from 20 patients with hypertension /11 women and 9 men/, who underwent carotid endarterectomy after transient ischemic attacks. Matching pieces of each plaque were incubated with increased concentration of pure oleacein /range 0-20 µM/ for 24 h. HMGB1, MMP-9, MMP-9/NGAL, TF and IL-10, as well as HO-1 secretion from plaque was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay /ELISA/. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 and P < 0.001.
Results: Oleacein at the concentrations of 10 and 20 µM significantly (P < 0.001) decreased secretion of HMGB1 (up 90%), MMP-9 (up to 80%), MMP-9/NGAL complex (up to 80%) and TF (more than 90%) from the treated plaque, as compared to control. At the same time IL-10 and HO-1 release increased by more than 80% (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that oleacein possess ability to attenuate the destabilization of carotid plaque and could be potentially useful in the reduction of ischemic stroke risk.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Carotid plaque; HMGB1; Oleacein.
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