Protective effect of multifunctional peptides PIISVYWK and FSVVPSPK on oxidative stress-mediated HUVEC injury through antioxidant and anti-apoptotic action

Abstract

PIISVYWK and FSVVPSPK are antioxidant peptides identified from blue mussel protein. In the present study, the cytoprotective function of the two peptides on H2O2-mediated injuries in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was evaluated. The results indicated that the peptides significantly restored cell survival (p < 0.05) in response to damage caused by H2O2 exposure. HUVECs treated with H2O2 generated high levels of ROS. While the elevated intracellular levels of ROS were decreased by the treatment with peptides; the result may be attributed to the elevated heme oxygenase-1 expression through Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Investigation of another underlying mechanism revealed that the peptides inhibited the apoptotic process in HUVECs that was induced by H2O2 exposure. Highly elevated levels of apoptotic Bax expression, the release of cytochrome C into the cytoplasm, and the cleaved caspase-3 expression were observed along with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The peptides downregulated the expression of Bax and the cleaved caspase-3, inhibited the release of cytochrome C, and restored MMP in response to H2O2-mediated HUVECs injuries. In addition, the peptides increased the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2.