Abstract
Fabiana Tortora
Abstract
Background/Aims: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid signal molecule that regulates many cellular processes both physiological and pathological. Moreover, its high plasma concentrations are toxic for several cellular types, including erythrocytes (RBC), as it acts as a pro-thrombotic and pro-atherogenic agent. It is therefore essential to explore the potential protective role of nutrition in protecting cells from the possible toxic effects of high plasma concentrations of LPA by testing bioactive nutrients. In particular, our focus was on hydroxytyrosol (HT), a phenolic antioxidant occurring naturally in virgin olive oil, investigating its possible protective effect in preventing LPA-induced programmed cell death (eryptosis) in human RBC.