N-3 PUFA increase bioavailability and function of endothelial progenitor cells

• Published in: Food & function Vol. 5; no. 8; pp. 1881 - 1890
• Main Authors: Spigoni, Valentina, Lombardi, Carlo, Cito, Monia, Picconi, Angela, Ridolfi, Valentina, Andreoli, Roberta, Anelli, Nadia, Gnudi, Luigi, Goldoni, Matteo, Zavaroni, Ivana, Raddino, Riccardo, Cas, Alessandra Dei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; bioavailability; Brackish; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemokine CCL2 - genetics; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; diet; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - blood; Endothelial Progenitor Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Progenitor Cells - metabolism; Female; Fishes; flow cytometry; Humans; intercellular adhesion molecule-1; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; interleukin-8; Interleukin-8 - genetics; Interleukin-8 - metabolism; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; mackerel; Male; Marine; mononuclear leukocytes; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; omega-3 fatty acids; polyunsaturated fatty acids; sardines; Sardinops; Scomber; Seafood; stem cells; surface antigens; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; vascular cell adhesion molecules; vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 - metabolism; viability
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/C3FO60641D

Recent data suggest that n-3 PUFA exert beneficial effects on endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) biology. We sought to investigate whether these effects might be mediated by enhanced EPC in vitro function and/or in vivo bioavailability. CACs and late-outgrowth EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 12 donor buffy-coats. The effect of n-3 PUFA (EPA:DHA = 0.9:1.5; 9 μM EPA plus 15 μM DHA) was tested on CAC/EPC viability, function (tube-formation) and pro-inflammatory molecule expression. Circulating EPC (cells positive for CD34, CD133 and kinase insert domain receptor - KDR cell-surface antigens by flow cytometry) number was evaluated in 20 healthy subjects (10 F/10 M, 32 ± 5 years), randomized to receive 4 mackerel or sardine portions per week for 6 weeks followed by a 6 week free-diet period. N-3 PUFA improved CAC and late-outgrowth EPC viability (p < 0.05) and the capacity to form tube-like structures in CACs (+38%; p < 0.05) and late-outgrowth EPCs (+15%; p < 0.05). ICAM-1 expression was reduced in both CACs (p < 0.05) and late-outgrowth EPCs (p < 0.05) and VCAM-1 in late-outgrowth EPCs (p < 0.005). N-3 PUFA significantly decreased TNF-α and MCP-1 expression in CACs and IL-8, TNF-α and MCP-1 in late-outgrowth EPCs (p < 0.05). Circulating EPC number significantly improved after 6 weeks of a fish-enriched diet (p < 0.01) and returned to baseline levels after a 6 week free-diet period (p < 0.01). Plasma EPA levels were independently and positively associated with EPC levels (p < 0.005). Our findings support the case of a beneficiary role played by n-3 PUFA in EPC function and bioavailability.