(P03-050-23) Oat-Derived β-Glucan and Avenanthramide for Tissue Repair: Stimulation of Angiogenesis In Vitro

Objectives: Components from dietary sources are important lifestyle factors influencing maintenance of health, of which angiogenesis plays an important role. Oat-derived bioactives, Avenanthramides (AVE) and β-glucan (βG) were tested using in vitro methods to quantify angiogenic potential.

Methods: Samples were solubilized and filter-sterilized prior to dose dilutions, then applied to cultures of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cell proliferation was determined by cell lysis and DNA quantification. Cell migration was determined by linear scratching through the cell monolayer and capturing gap closure under live cell microscopy.  Samples were blinded to investigators. Data was normalized to vehicle controls.

Results: Differential effects were seen in endothelial cell proliferation and migration. There was a dose dependent, significant stimulatory effect on endothelial cell proliferation by ßG. There was also a dose-dependent, significant stimulatory effect on cell proliferation by AVE at low doses ( < 2%). ßG did not affect HUVEC cell migration while high doses of AVE inhibited cell migration.

Conclusions: This study shows that both AVE and ßG possess the potential to modulate tissue function in ways that may improve tissue repair and regeneration by stimulating angiogenesis.

This intriguing activity of angiogenesis stimulation in the form of endothelial cell proliferation was distinct from migration, suggesting these two processes are separable cellular pathways. The observed in vitro bioactivity is consistent with additional studies we have conducted using validated in vivo models of wound healing showing AVE and ßG significantly decrease wound size compared to untreated control, along with enhanced markers of vascularity. Together, the data shows for the first time the collective benefits of oat-derived compounds for improved microvasculature and regenerative repair.

Funding Sources: This study was supported by grants from Ceapro and Henry Mellon.