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Hypericin Damages the Ectatic Capillaries in a Roman Cockscomb Model and Inhibits the Growth of Human Endothelial Cells More Potently Than Hematoporphyrin Does through Induction of Apoptosis
Author(s) -
Li Zhuoheng,
Meng Desheng,
Li Yuanyuan,
Lu Laichun,
Yu Caiping,
Zhang Qian,
Guan Haiyan,
Li Chenwen,
Yang Xue,
Fu Ruoqiu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12323
Subject(s) - hypericin , apoptosis , photodynamic therapy , hematoporphyrin , flow cytometry , cytochrome c , umbilical vein , photosensitizer , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , pharmacology , organic chemistry
Hypericin ( HY ) is a promising photosensitizer ( PS ) for use in photodynamic therapy ( PDT ). Port‐wine stains ( PWS s) are congenital superficial dermal capillary malformations. In this study, we evaluated the photocytotoxic effects of HY for PDT in human vascular endothelial cells and a chicken cockscomb model. HY significantly inhibited the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVEC s), as determined by colorimetric assays and morphological observation, and flow cytometry assays indicated induction of apoptosis and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, HY more effectively inhibited growth of and induced apoptosis in HUVEC s compared with hematoporphyrin ( HP ). Further experiments performed in a Roman chicken cockscomb model also showed a clear photocytotoxic effect on the cockscomb dermal capillary upon intravenous injection of HY . This effect may be due to the role of HY in the induction of apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopical analysis showed mitochondrial morphological changes such as incomplete ridges and swelling, and immunohistochemical assays showed an increase in the release of cytochrome c. In conclusion, HY exhibited a greater photocytotoxic activity than did HP toward the growth of endothelial cells and may thus represent a potent PS for PWS PDT .