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Modification of environmental toxicity by nutrients: implications in atherosclerosis
Bernhard Hennig1, Gudrun Reiterer, Zuzana Majkova
1Molecular and Cell Nutrition Laboratory, College of Agriculture, Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, USA. bhennig@uky.edu
Cardiovascular Toxicology
|July 28, 2005
Summary
Nutrition can protect against environmental pollutants like PCBs that cause vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Antioxidant nutrients and bioactive compounds found in fruits and vegetables may mitigate toxic effects on endothelial cells.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Disease
Background:
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), are linked to inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis.
- Endothelial cell activation, inflammation, and dysfunction are key in atherosclerotic lesion development.
- Oxidative stress and imbalanced antioxidant status are implicated in PCB-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how nutrition modulates the toxicity of environmental pollutants, specifically PCBs.
- To explore the role of dietary fats and antioxidant nutrients in PCB-induced endothelial dysfunction.
- To examine the impact of PCBs on Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) and their role in inflammation.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies on endothelial cells exposed to PCBs and various dietary components.
- Assessment of cellular oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and inflammatory gene expression.
- Investigation of lipid rafts (caveolae) and PPAR signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Specific dietary fats exacerbated PCB-induced endothelial dysfunction.
- Antioxidant nutrients (Vitamin E, flavonoids) protected endothelial cells from PCB damage.
- PCBs may down-regulate PPAR signaling, contributing to endothelial inflammation.
- Lipid rafts play a role in PCB-induced inflammatory signaling.
Conclusions:
- Antioxidant nutrients and bioactive compounds in fruits/vegetables protect the vascular endothelium from environmental toxic insults.
- Nutrition interventions may ameliorate PCB toxicity by down-regulating inflammatory pathways.
- Further research is needed to understand PCB-nutrition interactions for human health implications.
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