Anti-inflammatory Role of Carotenoids in Endothelial Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord of Women Affected by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 Jan 30:2019:8184656. doi: 10.1155/2019/8184656. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Diabetes is associated with vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress, promoting the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Several studies showed that a carotenoid-rich diet is associated to a reduced cardiovascular risk in healthy and diabetic subjects, although the mechanisms of action are still unknown. Here, the potential role of β-carotene (BC) and lycopene (Lyc) in human endothelial cells isolated from human umbilical cord vein (HUVECs) of women with gestational diabetes (GD) and respective controls (C) has been investigated. Results showed that BC and Lyc reduced the tumor necrosis factor alpha- (TNF-α-) stimulated monocyte-endothelium interaction (adhesion assay), membrane exposure (flow cytometry), and total expression levels (Western blot) of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in both cell types. Moreover, the treatment with BC and Lyc reduced the TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB (image flow cytometry) by preserving bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO, flow cytometry, and cGMP EIA kit assay), a key vasoactive molecule. Notably, BC and Lyc pretreatment significantly reduced peroxynitrite levels (flow cytometry), contributing to the redox balance protection. These results suggest a new mechanism of action of carotenoids which exert vascular protective action in diabetic condition, thus reinforcing the importance of a carotenoid-rich diet in the prevention of diabetes cardiovascular complications.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Availability
  • Carotenoids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Diabetes, Gestational / pathology*
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Peroxynitrous Acid / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Peroxynitrous Acid
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Carotenoids