Effects and mechanisms of docosahexaenoic acid on the generation of angiopoietin-2 by rat brain microvascular endothelial cells under an oxygen- and glucose-deprivation environment

• Published in: SpringerPlus 2016-09, Vol.5 (1), p.1518-1518, Article 1518
• Main Authors: Chen, Xiaobo, Wang, Qiang, Zhan, Leyun, Shu, Aihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humanities and Social Sciences; Medicine; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2193-1801; 2193-1801
• DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-3067-7

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the generation of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) by rat brain microvascular endothelial cells under an oxygen- and glucose-deprivation environment (OGD), and its relationship, if any, with cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression. Methods Annexin V and propidium iodide apoptosis assay was used to detect apoptosis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect Ang-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) content. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect Ang-2 and VEGF mRNA expression. Western blot was used to detect expression of COX-2 protein. Results DHA reduced the apoptosis rate ( P  = 0.026) and decreased the secretion of Ang-2, VEGF, PGE2, and PGI2 ( P  = 0.006, P  = 0.000, P  = 0.002, P  = 0.004 respectively). The relative expression of Ang2 and Vegf mRNA, as well as COX-2 expression, also decreased ( P  = 0.000, P  = 0.005, P  = 0.007 respectively). These effects were antagonized by GW9662 (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ antagonist). COX-2 protein expression levels were positively correlated with Ang2 and Vegf mRNA expression levels (γ = 0.69, P  = 0.038 and γ = 0.76, P  = 0.032, respectively). Ang - 2 and VEGF mRNA levels were positively correlated with Ang-2 (γ = 0.84, P  = 0.012) and VEGF (γ = 0.71, P  = 0.036) secretion levels respectively. Conclusion DHA reduced apoptosis induced by an OGD environment, thus decreasing Ang-2 and VEGF synthesis. This phenomenon was associated with a decrease in COX-2 protein expression, PGE2 and PGI2 secretion, and generation regulation via intracellular transcriptional pathways.