ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate inhibition effects and the mechanism of EPA on the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). METHODS: Different concentrations of EPA were added to the cultured HUVEC in vitro. The time cause and does response for the inhibition the cells proliferation in all groups were measured by the MTT assay. Light absorption values and cytostasis ratios in all groups were compared. One-way ANOVA in the SPSS 13.0 version statistical software was used. The effect of EPA on cell cycle, proliferative index (PI) and apoptosis of HUVEC in vitro were observed by Flow Cytometry. chi2-test of R x C contingency table was used as a method for statistical analysis. RESULTS: When the concentration of EPA was equal to or more than 0.15 g/L, MTT assay showed a significant difference of light absorption value in the cultured cell after EPA exposure compared with control, the suppressing effects enhanced as the treatment time increased. The peak time of the inhibition of the cell proliferation induced by EPA was at 60 hours and the effect was last until 72 hours. The proliferative index in the treatment group was 23.9%, which was lower than that in the control group (26.9%). No apoptosis was found in the cell in each group. CONCLUSIONS: EPA plays an important role of inhibition of proliferation of cultured HUVEC in vitro. No apoptosis was induced by the exposure HUVEC to EPA, therefore, it suggests a potential application for clinical trial.
