Exploring the health benefits of high amylose wheat phenolic extract in human endothelial cell model: Inhibitory effects on endothelial activation

Newly developed high amylose durum wheat genotypes, characterized by a high content of resistant starch, is gaining interest as a healthy ingredient for functional food. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Svevo high amylose phenolic extracts (HAPE) on endothelial activation, the first obligatory step of the atherosclerotic process, investigating the underlying mechanisms of action. To this aim, human microvascular endothelial cells were treated with HAPE (1–10 μg/mL) and then challenged with the pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic cytokine TNF-α. Endothelium-leukocyte adhesion, the expression of endothelial inflammatory mediators, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB were evaluated by multiple assays. The results showed that, HAPE, already at 5 μg/mL, suppressed the TNF-α stimulated expression of endothelial adhesion molecules as well as the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells by more than 50% in comparison with TNF-α alone. These effects were associated with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of intracellular ROS levels and NF-κB activation. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of Svevo high amylose as a functional food able to blunt endothelial activation, by inhibiting the concerted expression of endothelial markers involved in leukocyte recruitment and early atherogenesis.