CD31+/VEGFR-2+ cells were isolated from young healthy volunteers blood samples and cultured on fibronectin-coated plates with angiotensin (1.0 ¦ÌM) in presence or absence of increasing concentrations (from 1.0 to 10.0 ¦ÌM) of oleoeuropein or oleacein.
As compared to angiotensin II-treated cells, EPCs exposed to oleacein or oleuropein prior to angiotensin II showed a significant increase of proliferation and telomerase activity, and a decrease in the percentage of senescent cells and intracellular ROS formation. Oleacein and oleuropein restored migration, adhesion and tube formation of EPCs diminished by angiotensin II in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was related to NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor activation and the increase of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression.