Effect of Aminaphtone on in vitro vascular permeability and capillary–like maintenance

Aminaphtone (AMNA), a naphtohydrochinone used in the treatment of capillary disorders, may affect oedema in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Aim of study is to investigate the effect of AMNA on vascular endothelial permeability in vitro and its effects on three-dimensional capillary-like structures formed by Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF for 2h and AMNA for 6h. Permeability assay, VE-cadherin expression and Matrigel assay were performed. VEGF-induced permeability was significantly decreased by AMNA in a range concentration of 1-20 μg/ml. AMNA restored VE-cadherin expression. Finally, 6h pretreatment with AMNA significantly preserved capillary-like structures formed by HUVECs on Matrigel up to 48 h compared to untreated cells. AMNA significantly protects endothelium permeability and stabilises endothelial cells organised in capillary-like structures, modulating VE-cadherin expression. These data might explain the clinical benefict of AMNA on CVI.