Probucol Protects Endothelial Progenitor Cells Against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein via Suppression of Reactive Oxygen Species Formation In Vivo

• Main Authors: Qingbin Zhang, Liming Chen, Zhihua Si, Haoran Bu, Chandrakala A. Narasimhulu, Xueling Song, Ming-Yu Cui, Hang Liu, Tiewei Lu, Guanglong He, Sampath Parthasarathy, Lianqun Cui, Zhenguo Liu, Yuqi Cui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 2016-06-01
• Series: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
• Subjects: Probucol; Endothelial progenitor cells; Oxidized low-density lipoprotein; Reactive oxygen species
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/445608

Background/Aims: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is a major component of hyperlipidemia and contributes to atherosclerosis. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in preventing atherosclerosis and notably decreased in hyperlipidemia. Ox-LDL and ox-LDL-related reactive oxygen species (ROS) have deleterious effects on EPCs. Probucol as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug reduces ROS production. The present study was to determine if probucol could protect EPCs from ox-LDL in vivo and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Methods: ox-LDL was injected into male C57BL/6 mice for 3 days with or without probucol treatment with PBS as control. Bone marrow (BM) fluid, serum, circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) and EPCs were collected for analysis. Results: the increased extracellular ROS in BM, serum and blood intracellular ROS production in the mice with ox-LDL treatment in association with a significant reduction of circulating MNCs and EPCs were restored with Probucol treatment. A significant increase in the serum ox-LDL and C-reactive protein and decrease in superoxide dismutase and circulating MNCs and EPCs were observed in hyperlipidemic patients that were effectively reversed with probucol treatment. Conclusion: these data suggested that probucol could protect EPCs from ox-LDL through inhibition of ROS production in vivo.