An Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Red Microalgal Polysaccharides in Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells

OSHRAT ONTMAN, Chemical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Rachel Hamias, Center Of Vascular Hypertension Disease Research , Unit Soroka University Medical Center And Faculty Of Health Sciences. Ben-gurion University Of The Negev. Beer-sheva. Israel, Beer-sheva, Israel
Talya Wolak, Hypertension Unit Soroka University Medical Center Faculty Of Health Sciences. Ben-gurion University Of The Negev. Beer-sheva. Israel, Ben-gurion University Of The Negev. Beer-sheva. Israel, Beer-sheva, Israel
Esther Paran, Center Of Vascular Hypertension Disease Research , Unit Soroka University Medical Center And Faculty Of Health Sciences. Ben-gurion University Of The Negev. Beer-sheva. Israel, Beer-sheva, Israel

This study is part of an ongoing research focusing on the elucidation of the wide range of bioactivities attributed to the red microalga Porphyridium sp. polysaccharides. Among many bioactivities, these polysaccharides were proven to exhibit hypocholesterolamic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities with no toxic effects [1]. The primary goal of the present research was to assess whether the polysaccharides imitate reduction of inflammatory processes by interfering with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induced inflammation in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs).
The anti-inflammatory effect was examined by quantification of functional and inflammatory markers in TNF-α stimulated HCAEC following pre-treatment with polysacccharides at different concentrations. Inflammation processes induced by TNF-α, such as up-regulation of adhesion molecules (inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1)), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) translocation as well as (inhibitor of kappa B) IκB degradation, were significantly attenuated in cells pre-treated with the polysaccharides. In addition, the polysaccharides were able to inhibit NF-κB activation and increase the antioxidant activity in pre-treated-TNF-α-transfected HCAECs.
The polysaccharides were also found to act as a vaso-relaxing endothelial agent, as shown by their capacity to increase the Nitric oxide levels secreted by TNF-α-treated cells, alongside with a decrease in endothelin expression.
This study lays the foundations for basic research concerning the red microalgae polysaccharide’s mode of action in biochemical processes involving endothelial dysfunction, and it also holds potential for applied research, possibly promoting the use of the polysaccharides as a therapeutic agent or food additive to improve vascular health.

[1] Arad (Malis) S.; Levy-Ontman O.; Red microalgal cell-wall polysaccharides: biotechnological aspects. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2010, 21: 358–364.