The soyabean isoflavone genistein modulates endothelial cell behaviour

SANDOVAL, M.; CUTINI, P.; RAUSCHEMBERGER, M.B.; MASSHEIMER, V.

BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION

Cambridge University Press

Lugar: Southampton, UK; Año: 2010 vol. 104 p. 171 - 179

0007-1145

The aim of this work was to investigate the direct action of the phytoestrogen genistein on vascular endothelial behavior, either in the presence or absence of proinflammatory agents. In rat aortic endothelial cell cultures, 24 h of treatment with genistein significantly increased cell proliferation in a wide range of concentration (0.001 to 10 nM). This mitogenic action was prevented by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182780 or by the presence of the specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (L-Nitro-Arginine Methyl Ester). When monocytes adhesion to endothelial cell was measured, genistein partially attenuated leukocyte adhesion not only under basal conditions, but also in the presence of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. The effect of the phytoestrogen on the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules was evaluated. Genistein down regulated the enhance in mRNA levels of E-selectine, VCAM-1, and P-selectine elicited by the proinflammatory agent bacterial lipopolysaccharides. The regulation of endothelial cell programmed death induced by the isoflavone  was also demonstrated. Incubation with 10 nM genistein prevented DNA fragmentation induced by the apoptosis inducer H2O2. The results presented suggest that genistein would exert a protective effect on vascular endothelium, due to its regulatory action on endothelial proliferation, apoptosis, and leukocyte adhesion, events that play a critical role in vascular diseases. The molecular mechanism displayed by the phytoestrogen involved the participation of the estrogen receptor and the activation of nitric oxide pathway.