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Octacosanol Enhances the Proliferation and Migration of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via Activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk Pathways

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Lipids

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, lipid deposition, fibro-proliferative reactions and inflammation. Octacosanol is a high-molecular-weight primary aliphatic alcohol. As the main component of a cholesterol-lowering drug, octacosanol could inhibit lipids accumulation and cholesterol metabolism. To explore the indication of octacosanol on endothelial protection, we evaluated its effects on the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cell viability assay using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine revealed that 3.125 μg/ml octacosanol promoted the proliferation of HUVEC. A cell migration assay indicated that 0.781 and 3.125 μg/ml octacosanol increased the migration of HUVEC. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of Akt and Erk1/2 were significantly elevated under exposure to octacosanol. Blocking the activation of Akt and Erk with their potent inhibitors LY294002 and PD98059, respectively, markedly attenuated the octacosanol-induced proliferation and migration of HUVEC. These findings demonstrated for the first time that octacosanol enhanced the proliferation and migration of HUVEC and mediated these effects through activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk1/2 signaling pathways.

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Abbreviations

HUVEC:

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells

PI3K/Akt:

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt

MAPK/Erk1/2:

Mitogen-activated protein kinases/Erk1/2

HMGR:

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

CHD:

Coronary heart disease

MTT :

3-[4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide

EdU:

5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant 81370468/H2501.

Conflict of interest

The authors state that they have no conflicts of interest to disclosure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China

    Yu-Wei Liu, Pei-Yuan Zuo, Xiang-Nan Zha, Xing-Lin Chen, Rong Zhang, Xiao-Xiao He & Cheng-Yun Liu

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  1. Yu-Wei Liu
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  2. Pei-Yuan Zuo
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Correspondence to Cheng-Yun Liu.

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Liu, YW., Zuo, PY., Zha, XN. et al. Octacosanol Enhances the Proliferation and Migration of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via Activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk Pathways. Lipids 50, 241–251 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-3991-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-3991-2

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