(P01-090-20) Consuming Wolfberry (Lycium Barbarum L.) with a Healthy Dietary Pattern Improves the Function of Blood Outgrowth Endothelial Cells Derived from Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Objectives: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease, are involved in the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis and vascular repair and the number of EPCs could be altered by dietary modification. Wolfberry is widely known for the potential cardiovascular benefits, however, its impact on EPC count and function is not reported. This study aims to investigate the effect of consuming wolfberry as part of a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) on the number and function of EPCs derived from blood (BOECs).

Methods: Twenty-four subjects from Singapore were randomized and consumed either HDP only (HDPO; n=9; mean age 55 ± 3 years) or HDP supplemented with 15 g/day wolfberry (HDPW; n=15; mean age 56 ± 4 years) for 16 weeks. At pre- and post-intervention, 27 mL peripheral blood was collected from subject for the isolation of BOECs. Immunofluorescence staining with von Willebrand factor (VWF) and flow cytometry analysis with cell surface markers including KDR and CD34 were performed to verify the obtained BOECs. In-vitro tube formation assay was performed to measure the angiogenic properties of BOECs. Endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) were also measured by ultrasonographic imaging.

Results: Isolated BOECs have typical endothelial cobblestone morphology, express VWF and KDR, and partly express CD34. Compared with pre-intervention, both HDPO and HDPW groups showed an increase in total colony numbers of BOECs (from 1.8 ± 0.5 to 3.1 ± 1.1, P=0.28 and 2.7 ± 0.8 to 3.2 ± 0.6, P=0.51, respectively). For the tube formation capacity of BOECs, adherence to a HDP contributed to a time effect on both the total mesh area (P=0.02) and mean mesh size (P< 0.01). However, further improvement in total master segment length (6.9 ± 1.6 to 11.4 ± 1.0 mm, P=0.03), total mesh area (0.2 ± 0.1 to 0.7 ± 0.1 mm², P=0.03), and mean mesh size (0.02 ± 0.006 to 0.05 ± 0.003 mm², P< 0.001) were only observed in the HDPW group compared with pre-intervention and not in the HDPO group. No changes of FMD and IMT were detected after intervention.

Conclusions: Adherence to a HDP increases colony count and enhances angiogenic function of BOECs, and the angiogenic capability of BOECs is further improved by wolfberry supplement in Singaporean middle-aged and older adults.

Funding Sources: Ministry of Education, Singapore