EGCG Regulates Cell Apoptosis of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Grown on 316L Stainless Steel for Stent Implantation

Abstract

Background

Nowadays, medical grade 316L stainless steel (316L SS) is being widely used for intravascular stents, and the drug-eluting stent (DES) system is able to significantly reduce the occurrences of in-stent restenosis. But the drugs and the polymer coating used in DES potentially induce the forming of late stent thrombosis. In order to reduce the occurrence of ISR after stent implantation, the development of novel drugs for DESs is urgently needed.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown on 316L stainless steel (316L SS) using flow cytometry and Q-PCR methods.

Results

Our results showed that EGCG (12.5, 25, 50, 100 μmol/L) significantly inhibited HUVEC proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that EGCG (25, 50, 100 μmol/L) induced apoptosis. Moreover, qRT-PCRrevealed that genes associated with cell apoptosis (caspase-3, 8, 9, Fas) and autophagy (Atg 5, Atg 7, Atg 12) were up-regulated after EGCG treatment.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that EGCG possesses chemo preventive potential in stent coating which may serve as a novel new drug for stent implantation.

Keywords:

• EGCG
• 316 stainless steel
• HUVECs
• apoptosis

Acknowledgment

This work was financially supported by the Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission (grant number: 2020C038-7), the Development of Science and Technology, Jilin Province, China (grant number: 2018010195JC), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 81401721), the Education Department of Jilin Province, China (grant number: JJKH20180239KJ), and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Jilin Province (grant number: 2017J074). There is no conflict to declare regarding funding.

Disclosure

We declare that there are no financial or other contractual agreements that may cause conflicts of interest or be perceived as causing conflicts of interest.