7, 8-Dihydroxyflavone Protects an Endothelial Cell Line from H2O2 Damage

7, 8-dihydroxyflavone (7, 8-DHF), a selective agonist for TrkB receptors, has been well studied for its neurotrophic functions. However, its roles outside the neural tissues have scarcely been studied as yet. In this study, we investigated the protecting roles of 7, 8-DHF in EA.hy926 cells, a human umbilic vein endothelial cell line which was exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We found that 7, 8-DHF significantly protected the cells from being damaged by H2O2 through suppression of apoptosis, attenuation of inflammatory factor releasing and inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation. The potent biological effects of 7, 8-DHF were probably executed via its binding to TrkB receptors because the receptor specific antagonist ANA-12 significantly blocked its protecting effects. The protecting roles of 7, 8-DHF in EA.hy926 cells suggest that it will be a promising compound to be developed into a health product that definitely benefits endothelial functions and prevents cardiovascular diseases.