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Non‐antioxidant molecular functions of α‐tocopherol (vitamin E)
Author(s) -
Azzi Angelo,
Ricciarelli Roberta,
Zingg Jean-Marc
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02706-0
Subject(s) - cd36 , antioxidant , nitric oxide , tocopherol , vitamin e , chemistry , protein kinase c , collagenase , scavenger receptor , superoxide , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , platelet , receptor , biology , kinase , immunology , enzyme , lipoprotein , organic chemistry , cholesterol
α‐Tocopherol (the major vitamin E component) regulates key cellular events by mechanisms unrelated with its antioxidant function. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and vascular smooth muscle cell growth by α‐tocopherol was first described by our group. Later, α‐tocopherol was shown to inhibit PKC in various cell types with consequent inhibition of aggregation in platelets, of nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and of superoxide production in neutrophils and macrophages. α‐Tocopherol diminishes adhesion molecule, collagenase and scavenger receptor (SR‐A and CD36) expression and increases connective tissue growth factor expression.