Objectives Aminaphtone, a naphtohydrochinone used in the treatment of capillary disorders, may affect oedema in chronic venous insufficiency. Aim of study is to investigate the effect of aminaphtone on vascular endothelial permeability in vitro and its effects on three-dimensional capillary-like structures formed by human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Method Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF for 2 h and aminaphtone for 6 h. Permeability assay, VE-cadherin expression and Matrigel assay were performed. Results VEGF-induced permeability was significantly decreased by aminaphtone in a range concentration of 1-20 µg/ml. Aminaphtone restored VE-cadherin expression. Finally, 6 h pre-treatment with aminaphtone significantly preserved capillary-like structures formed by human umbilical vein endothelial cells on Matrigel up to 48 h compared to untreated cells. Conclusions Aminaphtone significantly protects endothelium permeability and stabilises endothelial cells organised in capillary-like structures, modulating VE-cadherin expression. These data might explain the clinical benefit of aminaphtone on chronic venous insufficiency.
Keywords: Aminaphtone; VE-cadherin; capillary fragility; chronic venous insufficiency; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; permeability.