Enhancement of Cardio-Protective Effects and Attenuation of Adverse Effects of Female Sex Hormones on Cultured Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by a Combination of Ascorbic Acid, Lysine, Proline, Arginine, Cysteine, and Epigallocatechin Gallate

V.Ivanov, S. Ivanova, W. Roomi, T.Kalinovsky, A. Niedzwiecki, M.Rath

JANA January 2005, 7 (3), 17-22.

In this in vitro study, the effects of adjunctive use of a formulation containing ascorbic acid, lysine, proline, arginine, N-acetyl cysteine, and epigallocatechin gallate (NS) with female sex hormones was tested on human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). Estradiol and progesterone stimulated DNA synthesis in SMC 30% and 24% respectively at 25-150 nmol/L concentrations. NS (20 µg/ml) inhibited SMC growth by 30% over the control and reversed the stimulatory effect of the sex hormones to a maximum of 25% inhibition. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) inhibited SMC growth by 50% at 0.1 mmol/L. Addition of NS enhanced the DHEAS inhibitory effect to 70% as compared to the control. DHEAS and progesterone significantly increased SMC capacity to invade Matrigel by 20% and 60%, respectively. Addition of NS reversed the stimulatory effects, producing up to 60% inhibition of SMC invasion. Addition of NS reversed the effects of DHEAS on total collagen synthesis in SMC from 28% stimulation to 56% inhibition. Estradiol, progesterone, and DHEAS demonstrated some inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha-stimulated SMC secretion of interleukin (IL) 1-beta, IL-6 and monocyte chemo attractant protein 1 in cultured media; NS enhanced inhibition of these cytokines under most conditions. The results of this study imply that the specific formula of nutrients tested enhances the cardio-protective effects of female sex hormones and counteracts their adverse effects on atherogenic properties.