Peptides derived from rice α-globulin reduce atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by inhibiting TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial cells injury

Abstract Rice α-globulin has been reported to possess anti-atherosclerotic activity, but the key peptides in the rice α-globulin and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of the rice α-globulin peptides YYGGEGSSSEQG and SESEM were observed in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice in this study. The synthetic peptides were orally administered to ApoE−/− mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The lesion area in the aorta and the aortic root were significantly reduced by the peptides. The peptides increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) while decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as reducing the serum levels of TNF-α and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The TNF-α induced vascular endothelial cells injury was decreased significantly by the peptide treatment in vitro. These results demonstrated that the YYGGEGSSSEQG and SESEM can potentially act as anti-atherosclerotic agents through a combination of three mechanisms: anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.