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Direct evidence that (−)-epicatechin increases nitric oxide levels in human endothelial cells

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Abstract

Background

The dietary flavanol (−)-epicatechin has been suggested to mediate its vasodilatory effect by increasing nitric oxide levels in endothelial cells.

Aim of the study

To directly prove the formation of nitric oxide (NO) in human endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro by trapping NO to yield a fluorescent nitrosamine.

Methods

HUVEC were treated with (−)-epicatechin; nitrite and NO formation were determined by reductive chemiluminescence detection and the NO-sensitive fluorophore 5-methoxy-2-(1H-naphthol[2,3-d]imidazol-2-yl)-phenol copper complex (MNIP-Cu), respectively. MNIP was synthesized in a rapid and convenient one-step microwave reaction. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA levels and mRNA stability were measured.

Results

Incubation with (−)-epicatechin (0.3–10 μM) led to elevated NO levels in HUVEC measured via reductive chemiluminescence detection and visualized as the fluorescent NO derivative of MNIP. Expression of eNOS mRNA and mRNA stability were not affected by (−)-epicatechin treatment within the time frame studied.

Conclusion

(−)-Epicatechin augments the level of NO in endothelial cells, a process suggested to be responsible for the vasodilatory properties of the compound.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 663; B1). H. S. is a Fellow of the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR), Bethesda, MD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie I, Medizinische Fakultät, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, P.O.-Box 101007, 40001, Duesseldorf, Germany

    Tatjana Brossette, Claas Hundsdörfer, Klaus-Dietrich Kröncke, Helmut Sies & Wilhelm Stahl

  2. Leibniz-Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung, Heinrich-Heine Universität, P.O.-Box 103045, 40021, Duesseldorf, Germany

    Helmut Sies

  3. College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Helmut Sies

Authors
  1. Tatjana Brossette
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  2. Claas Hundsdörfer
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  3. Klaus-Dietrich Kröncke
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  4. Helmut Sies
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  5. Wilhelm Stahl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wilhelm Stahl.

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Brossette, T., Hundsdörfer, C., Kröncke, KD. et al. Direct evidence that (−)-epicatechin increases nitric oxide levels in human endothelial cells. Eur J Nutr 50, 595–599 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0172-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0172-9

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