LAUSR

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Coronary bypass operations are commonly performed for treatment of ischemic heart diseases. Coronary artery bypass surgery with autologous human saphenous vein maintains its importance as a commonly used therapy for advanced atherosclerosis. Vascular inflammation-related intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerotic progress have major roles in the pathogenesis of saphenous vein graft disease. METHOD In our study, we investigated the effect of anacardic acid (AA), which is a bioactive phytochemical in the shell of Anacardium occidentale, on atherosclerosis considering its inhibitory effect on NF-κB. We observed relative ICAM-1 and NF-κB mRNA levels by qRT-PCR method in a TNF-α-induced inflammation model of saphenous vein endothelial cell culture after 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 µM of AA were applied to the cells. In addition, protein levels of ICAM-1 and NF-κB were evaluated by immunofluorescent staining. The results were compared between different concentrations of AA, and also with the control group. RESULTS It was found that 5 µM, 1 µM and 0.5 µM of AA had toxic effects, while cytotoxicity decreased when 0.1 µM of AA was applied both alone and with TNF-α. When AA was applied with TNF-α, there was a decrease and suppression in NF-κB expression compared with the TNF-α group. TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression was significantly reduced more in the AA-applied group than in the TNF-α group. CONCLUSION In accordance with our results, it can be said that AA has a protective role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and hence in saphenous vein graft disease.