Theaflavins ameliorate palmitic acid-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells injury and mitochondrial dysfunction

The study was performed to investigate the influence of theaflavins on cell apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage in PA-induced atherosclerotic HUVECs injury model. The results indicated that treatment of HUVEC with PA induced cell death in a time-dependent manner, and the number of HUVECs was markedly decreased in PA treatment group. However, co-incubated with PA and theaflavins in HUVECs, the cell viability was significantly increased, and apoptotic cell proportion was decreased. In addition, the levels of NO and p-eNOS were significantly suppressed when the cells were exposed to PA, in contrast to that co-incubation with theaflavins reversed the decreased level of NO and p-eNOS in HUVECs. Furthermore, PA combination with theaflavins could significantly improve mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibit DNA damage in HUVECs. These results suggested that theaflavins could alleviate the mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage that were induced by palmitic acid. In conclusion, theaflavins had a potential protective effect against PA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage in HUVECs, and the underlying mechanism was mediated, at least partially, through the activation of eNOS/NO signaling pathway.