Synthetic Peptide (P-21) Derived from Asp-Hemolysin Inhibits the Induction of Apoptosis on HUVECs by Lysophosphatidylcholine

Abstract

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), formed during low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and located within atherosclerotic plaques, regulates a variety of cellular functions, some of which could be construed to promote atherosclerotic lesion development, including vascular muscle cell proliferation, monocyte attraction, and endothelial cell apoptosis. We have previously reported that the synthetic peptide derived from Asp-hemolysin, named P-21, inhibits oxidized LDL (OxLDL)-induced macrophage proliferation through binding of P-21 to OxLDL. In this study, to clarify the interaction between P-21 and LPC as a typical lipid moiety of OxLDL, we examined the influence of P-21 on LPC-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Based on flow cytometric analysis, using annexine V-fluorescein isothiocianate and propidium iodide as probes to assess apoptosis, LPC induced the apoptosis of HUVECs, and P-21 significantly inhibited this activity by 82.4%. Furthermore, dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorometric immunoassay indicated that LPC inhibited the binding of P-21 to OxLDL in a dose-dependent manner. A 50% inhibition dose was estimated to be 4.65 μM of LPC. These results suggest that P-21 inhibits LPC-induced HUVEC apoptosis through binding of P-21 to LPC.