The protective effects of Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside preconditioning in an ischemia/reperfusion model of HUVECs

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of preconditioning human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside (PMS) under anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R), and the mechanism of protection. Methods: Prior to A/R, HUVECs were incubated with PMS (0.6×10 −11 , 1.2×10 −11 , or 2.4×10 −11 mol/L) for 3 h. Cell injury was subsequently evaluated by measuring cell viability with an MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, whereas lipid peroxidation was assayed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Antioxidant capacity was quantified by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by nitrite accumulation. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) protein expression was detected by Western blotting. Guanylate cyclase activity and cyclic GMP (cGMP) activity were assessed by an enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: PMS incubation attenuated A/R-induced injury in a concentration-dependent manner, as evidenced by a decrease in LDH activity and an increase in cell viability. PMS exerted its protective effect by inhibiting the A/R-mediated elevation of MDA content, as well as by promoting the recovery of SOD and GSH-Px activities. Additionally, PMS incubation enhanced NO and cGMP formation by increasing iNOS expression and guanylate cyclase activity. The protective effects of PMS were markedly attenuated by NOS inhibitor L -NAME, soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ or PKG inhibitor KT5823. Conclusion: PMS preincubation resulted in the enhancement of antioxidant activity and anti-lipid peroxidation. The NO/cGMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) signaling pathway was involved in the effect of PMS on HUVECs.