Oleuropein and oleacein may restore biological functions of endothelial progenitor cells impaired by angiotensin II via activation of Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 pathway.

In this research Parzonko et al examined whether oleoeuropein and oleacein could protect endothelial progenitor cells against impairment of their functions due to angiotensin-induced cell senescence. These cells are responsible for neovascularization of ischaemic tissue and may participate in re-endothelization of an injured arterial wall. Angiotensin II, one of the pathological factors of hypertension, has the capacity to damage vascular endothelium by inducing oxidative stress. The researchers examined oleacein as a natural antioxidant which can protect endothelial cells.


CD31+/VEGFR-2+ cells were isolated from young healthy volunteer’s blood samples and cultured on fibronectin-coated plates with angiotensin (1.0 M) in presence or absence of increasing concentrations (from 1.0 to 10.0 M) of oleacein. As compared to angiotensin II-treated cells, EPCs exposed to oleacein prior to angiotensin II showed a significant increase of proliferation and telomerase activity, and a decrease in the   percentage of senescent cells and intracellular ROS formation. Oleacein restored migration, adhesion and tube formation of EPCs diminished by angiotensin II in a concentration-dependent manner.


Oleasin protects cells from aging and death in a dose-dependent manner.



Fig. 4. Effects of oleacein (OC) and oleuropein (OL) on telomerase activity. Cells were treated with angiotensin II (1 M) and oleuropein or oleacein in indicated concentrations.


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