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Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on human endothelial cells

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Summary

A possible protective effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on human endothelial cells was studied both under basal culture conditions and in the presence of agents capable of influencing oxidative damage, such as glucose/glucose oxidase and oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Propionyl-L-carnitine had no significant effect on the observed decline in various parameters of cell viability, e.g., cell detachment, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and the rate of protein synthesis. Propionyl-L-carnitine progressively decreased the fluorescence intensity in fura-2-loaded endothelial cells obtained during excitation at 340 nm. A similar effect was observed with propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine, but not with L-carnitine and D-carnitine. These results suggest that propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine decrease the cytoplasmic calcium level in endothelial cells.

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  1. Gaubius Institute TNO, Herenstraat 5d, 2313 AD, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Victor W. M. van Hinsbergh & Mariëlle A. Scheffer

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  1. Victor W. M. van Hinsbergh
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  2. Mariëlle A. Scheffer
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van Hinsbergh, V.W.M., Scheffer, M.A. Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on human endothelial cells. Cardiovasc Drug Ther 5, 97–105 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00128248

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