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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177699
Title: MODULATION OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL PROLIFERATION AND NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION BY AVENANTHRAMIDES, POLYPHENOLS FROM OATS

Author
item NIE, LIN - TUFTS/HNRCA
item Wise, Mitchell
item Peterson, David
item MEYDANI, MOHSEN - TUFTS/HNRCA

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2005
Publication Date: 3/7/2005
Citation: Nie, L., Wise, M.L., Peterson, D., Meydani, M. 2005. Modulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and nitric oxide production by avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19:A1476.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and the impaired bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) are both crucial pathophysiological processes in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. Epidemiological data have indicated that the consumption of diets rich in whole grain foods is associated with a reduced risk of developing atherosclerosis and hypertension. Avenanthramides are polyphenols found exclusively in oats. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of a synthetically prepared avenanthramide-c (Av-c) on vascular SMC proliferation and NO production of SMC and human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC). Av-c dose-dependently inhibited serum-induced SMC proliferation. At concentrations of 120 microM, Av-c inhibited more than 50 percent of SMC proliferation measured by [3H] thymidine incorporation and increased the doubling time of rat SMC line (A10) from 28 h to 48 h. Treatment of human SMC with 40, 80, and 120 uM of Av-c inhibited cell number growth by 40.9, 62, and 72.7 percent, respectively. Interestingly, Av-c treatment significantly increased the NO production in both SMC and HAEC to 3-fold and 8.8-fold, respectively at concentration at 120 uM. This increase was parallel with the up-regulation of mRNA expression for nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzyme in both vascular SMC and HAEC. These results suggest that the consumption of oats may contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis through its unique polyphenols, avenanthramides.