Endothelial cells and its progenitors play an important role in angiogenesis, essential for organogenesis, tissue remodeling but also for inflammatory response, carcinogenesis in all periods of our life. In our study we concentrated on the direct effect of beta-carotene (BC) on human umbilical cord originated endothelial progenitors (EPC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: BC uptake was measured by HPLC method. The effect on cell proliferation was measured by BrdU incorporation. Chemotaxis was performed in the Boyden’s chamber The influence on tubular-like structure formation was investigated by the 3D assay in matrigel in vitro as well as in vivo model. Changes of gene expression were analyzed using microarray hybridization method. The quantitative gene expression was estimated using the real-time PCR method.

Results: We have demonstrated that BC-in the physiological range of concentrations, found in human blood, is a potent activator of chemotaxis of endothelial cells. The microarray data analysis revealed that the genes involved in cell/cell; cell /matrix adhesion; matrix reorganization, and activation of chemotaxis were the most affected by BC genes in HUVEC and EPC. These results were also confirmed in in vivo angiogenesis model.

Conclusion: BC in the physiological concentration range stimulates early steps of angiogenic activity of endothelial cells by activation of cellular migration as well as matrix reorganization and decrease of cell adhesion.

Sponsored by the EU F5 DLARFID QLTR-2001-00183 and STEC QLK3-CT-2002-30307 projects.

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