Betaine attenuates lysophosphatidylcholine-mediated adhesion molecules in aged rat aorta: modulation of the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

We previously reported that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a mediator of endothelial dysfunction in the expression of adhesion molecules (AMs) during aging. This study aimed at investigating the effects of betaine on LPC-related expression of AMs and the molecular modulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in the aorta of aged rats and rat endothelial YPEN-1 cells. The experiment was performed on young (7 months) and old (21 months) rats; 2 groups of old rats were fed betaine (3 or 6 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1) for 10 days). Betaine inhibited the expression of LPC-related AMs in the serum and tissue of aged rats, without affecting the elevated levels of serum LPC. Betaine also prevented the generation of reactive species, thereby maintaining the redox status via the enhancement of the thiol status during aging. Furthermore, betaine attenuated NF-κB activation via the dephosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in aged aorta and LPC-treated YPEN-1 cells. Thus, betaine suppressed the LPC-related AM expression associated with NF-κB activation via the upregulation of IKK/MAPKs. Our findings provide insights into the prevention of vascular disorders and the development of interventions based on natural compounds, such as betaine.