Pigment epithelium-derived factor alleviated Ox-LDL-induced endothelial injury in an experiment

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL)-induced endothelial injury. Methods A cell injury model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was induced by Ox-LDL and intervened with PEDF. Cell viability of HUVECs was evaluated with MTT assay. Cell apoptosis of HUVECs was detected with MTT assay and SYTO-13/PI double staining. The expression of β-catenin (non-phosphorylatedβ-catenin) and disheveled-1 (Dvl-1) were analyzed by western blot. Results The Ox-LDL-induced HUVECs cell injury model was successfully established. Exposure of HUVECs to Ox-LDL led to a decrease in cell viability (P< 0.05). Ox-LDL-induced HUVEC injury and apoptosis, the up-regulation of β-catenin and Dvl-1 expression were suppressed by PEDF pretreatment (P< 0.05,respectively). Conclusion PEDF can ameliorate Ox-LDL-induced endothelial injury by down-regulating the expression of β-catenin and Dvl-1, which may be mediated by Wnt/β-catenin pathway.