Role of homocysteine in tissue factor expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM: To investigate the expression of tissue factor (TF) induced by homocysteine (Hcy) and the effect of Hcy on activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).METHODS: Human umbilical artery VSMCs were cultured by tissue explanting method,and were incubated with different dosage of Hcy/ PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor) in different time.RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of TF mRNA,and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of TF on the surface of VSMCs.Western blotting was performed to measure the NF-κB protein level in the nuclear,flow cytometry was used to examine the expression of iNOS and the expression of TF on the surface of VSMCs.RESULTS: Hcy induced VSMCs TF mRNA expression significantly after the VSMCs were incubated with Hcy at concentrations of 10,100,500 μmol/L,respectively.There was low expression level of TF protein on the surface of the control VSMCs and Hcy also induced VSMCs TF protein expressionn on the cell surface at different concentrations.Additionally,Hcy rapidly induced the activation of NF-κB and inhibited this effect significantly by PDTC.Hcy alone did not induce the expression of iNOS in VSMCs.CONCLUSION: Hcy induces human VSMCs expression of TF in mRNA and protein.These effects were partly mediated by NF-κB.These results suggest that Hcy may play an important role in atherosclerosis and thrombosis.     

High glucose up-regulates TRAIL-R4 expression in THP-1 cells and smooth muscle cells

AIM: To evaluate the expression of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor 4 (TRAIL-R4) of THP-1 cells and human aorta smooth muscle cells under high glucose intervention. METHODS: Monocytic cell line THP-1 was incubated with PMA to induce to mature macrophage, Adhesion molecules CD11b and CD11c were assessed by FACS. TRAIL-R4 levels in THP-1 cells treated with different glucose concentrations were determined by Western blotting. The changes of TRAIL-R4 protein expressions were observed at different time points in human aorta smooth muscle cells. Western blotting was employed to evaluate TRAIL-R4 levels after the intervention of PKC activator. RESULTS: Incubation with 160 nmol/L PMA induced mature macrophages. TRAIL-R4 expression was up-regulated after incubation with 20 mmol/L glucose in macrophages. TRAIL-R4 was elevated in a time course manner under high glucose level in human aorta smooth muscle cells. Moreover, activation of PKC induced TRAIL-R4 expressions. CONCLUSION: Up-regulated TRAIL-R4 protein levels induced by high glucose levels might inhibit apoptosis of monocytes and smooth muscle cells and contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis.     

Regulation of ghrelin on expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1/G1 in THP-1 derived foam cells

AIM: To investigate the regulation of ghrelin on the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and G1 (ABCA1/ABCG1)during the foam cell formation. METHODS: The human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1)was chosen in our study. The differentiation of THP-1 cells into macrophages was induced by using phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Macrophages were then incubated with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL)to generate foam cells. Ghrelin of different concentrations were treated at different time points during foam cell formation. The ABCA1/ABCG1 protein and mRNA levels were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The effect of variance of cholesterol content was measured by zymochemistry via-fluorospectrophotometer. RESULTS: Ghrelin reduced the content of lipid droplet in foam cells, and increased the efflux of intracellular cholesterol significantly. Ghrelin increased ABCA1 protein mass and mRNA level in dose-dependent manner. The changes of ABCG1 protein and mRNA level were the same as ABCA1. CONCLUSION: Ghrelin interfere atherosclerosis by up-regulating the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1.     

HCMV-infected human THP-1 cells induce expression of HLA-G and its receptors

AIM: To investigate the differential expression of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) isoforms and its receptors in human monocyte line THP-1 after human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection for exploring the role of HLA-G in HCMV escaping the immune response of the organism.METHODS: THP-1 cells were infected with HCMV Towne strain. The expression of HLA-G isoforms at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The surface expression of HLA-G and its receptors ILT2/ILT4 and the cell viability were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and IL-10 were measured by ELISA.RESULTS: After infection of the THP-1 cells with HCMV, no obvious apoptosis in the cells was observed, and the viability of the cells was high. A significant up-regulation of HLA-G1, -G3, -G4 and -G5 at mRNA expression level 1 d after infection was found, while the protein expression of HLA-G1 and HLA-G5 isoforms was mainly detected. The expression of HLA-G/ILT2/ILT4 was evidently up-regulated 1 d after infection. The level of sHLA-G was significantly increased 1 d after infection as compared with control group (P<0.01). The expression of IL-10 was obviously up-regulated 1 d post-infection as compared with control group.CONCLUSION: The differential expression of HLA-G isoforms and secretion of the receptors ILT2/ILT4 and IL-10 in the THP-1 cells are induced after HCMV infection. This study provides experimental evidence for evaluating the immune mechanism of HCMV infection.     

Doxycycline induces apoptosis in THP-1 cells

AIM: This study was designed to investigate the apoptotic effect of doxycycline in THP-1 cells.METHODS: After differentiated by PMA, THP-1 cells were treated with doxycycline at different concentrations ranging from zero to 80 mg/L. The morphological changes of THP-1 cells were observed under light microscope. MTT assay were used to examine the effects of doxycycline on proliferation of THP-1 cells. Apoptotic THP-1 cells were measured by Annexin-V flow cytometry analysis and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay.RESULTS: Treated with a certain concentration of doxycycline, differentiated THP-1 cells contracted and turn round, a number of cells were dead. MTT assay and positive Annexin V-FITC on cell membrane and TUNEL assay showed that doxycycline induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION: Doxycycline induces apoptosis in THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner.     

Role of hypoxia stimulated expression of connective tissue growth factor in renal interstitial fibrosis

AIM: To study the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induced by hypoxia, and the role and mechanism of hypoxia on promoting renal interstitial fibrosis. METHODS: Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rat animal model for 9 days as in vivo studies; marker of hypoxia-HIF-1α mRNA and protein, the expression of CTGF in the obstructed kidneys were assessed by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting respectively. In vitro, normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast cells (NRK-49F) were exposed to hypoxia (1%O2) for up to 6 hours, hypoxia was confirmed by detecting the expression of HIF-1α protein in cells, cellular level of CTGF mRNA and protein were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS: Neither HIF-1α mRNA nor HIF-1α protein was expressed in the kidney from sham-operated group of rats. High level of HIF-1α mRNA were occurred, and strongly HIF-1α positive immunostaining were seen in the tubular and interstitial cells in kidney from UUO rats. Expression and location of CTGF protein were paralleled and relevant with the expression of HIF-1α protein in kidney of UUO rats. In cultured NRK-49F cell line, subjected to hypoxia even for 6 hours stimulated the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that hypoxia could stimulate the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in kidney from UUO rats, which may in turn contribute to renal interstitial fibrosis.     

Action of ATP binding cassette transporter A 1 on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells

AIM:To study the action of ATP binding cassette transporter(ABC) A 1 on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.METHODS:After exposure of the cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells to 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol and 4, 4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) at different concentration for 24 hours, cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 mRNA level were determined by FJ-2107P type liquid scintillator and reverse trancriptase-polymerase chaim reaction(RT-PCR), respectively.RESULTS:Oxidized LDL promoted cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophages and 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol increased cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells in a dose-dependent manner and DIDS inhibited cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure of the cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells to 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol and DIDS at different concentration for 24 hours, resulted in increase and decrease in the expression of ABCA1 mRNA in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells in a dose-dependent manner, respectively.CONCLUSION:ABCA1 playes an important role in cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.     

Effects of angiotensin Ⅱ on ATP binding cassette transporter A1 in THP-1 derived foam cells

AIM:To study the influence of angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) on ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in THP-1 derived foam cells. The variance of the expression of ABCA1, the content and the effluent rate of cholesterol were also investigated. METHODS:The regulatory effect of AngⅡ on the expression of ABCA1 mRNA and protein in THP-1 derived form cells were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The effect of variance of cholesterol content was measured by zymochemistry via-fluorospectrophotometer, cholesterol effluent was measured by liquid scintillator. RESULTS:A positive facilitative effect of Ang Ⅱon form cells was observed. Total cholesterol content were increased significantly by Ang Ⅱ treatment (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein of ABCA1 were down-regulated significantly by Ang Ⅱ stimulation (P<0.05). Irbesartan reduced the total cholesterol content significantly (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the increase in the effluent rate of cholesterol and the expression of ABCA1 were observed (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The effects of Ang Ⅱ on the formation of foam cells and atherosclerosis may be correlated to the activation of AT1 receptor and down-regulation of ABCA1.     

Role of MEK1/2 in ICAM-1 over expression induced by lipopolysaccharide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate the role of MEK1/2, a subfamily of mitogen activated protein kinase-kinase (MAPKK), in expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Expression levels of ICAM-1 mRNA and its protein were assayed using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, in HUVECs pretreated with different concentrations of LPS for different times with or without PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK1/2. RESULTS: LPS up-regulated the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA and its protein in HUVECs in a concentration- and time-dependent manners. The expression levels of ICAM-1 mRNA and its protein began to elevate at 2 h after LPS treatment, and reached nearly a peak value at 6 h after LPS (100 μg·L-1) treatment. PD98059 (10 μg·L-1) significantly inhibited LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein, the expression inhibitory rates of which were 54.4% and 44.9%, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Modulation of MEK1/2 signaling pathway might be a new and useful strategy for the prevention and treatment of vascular endothelial injury induced by LPS.     

Mechanical stretch induces translocation of high-mobility group box 1 protein in THP-1 cells

AIM: To investigate the translocation of high-mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1) in THP-1 cells induced by mechanical stretch. METHODS: The vector that expressed the fusion protein of HMGB1 and enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) was constructed. The cDNA of HMGB1 and EGFP was subcloned into hemagglutinin(HA)-tagged vector pcDNA3-HA by two-step method. THP-1 cells were transfected with pcDNA3-HMGB1-EGFP and exposed to cyclic mechanical stretch at 20 % elongation using Flexercell 4000T cell stretching unit. The translocation of HMGB1 in THP-1 cells was observed under fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: The recombinant plasmid was verified by enzyme digestion. The green fluorescence accumulated in the nuclei of the cells, indicating that the fusion protein was highly expressed in THP-1 cells and localized in the nuclei. Eighteen hours after mechanical stretch, the green fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm. At the same time, the green fluorescence was still localized in the nuclei of the control cells treated without mechanical stretch. CONCLUSION: The HMGB1-EGFP fusion protein is successfully and effectively expressed in THP-1 cells. Mechanical stretch induces the translocation of HMGB1 protein from nucleus to cytoplasm.     

Angiotensin-(1-7) increases expression of ABCA1 and decreases content of cholesterol in THP-1-derived foam cells via AC-cAMP pathway

AIM: To establish the THP-1-derived foam cell formation and to evaluate the effects of angiotensin-(1-7) and MDL (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) on the expression of ATP-binding cassete transporter A1(ABCA1) and the content of cholesterol. METHODS: THP-1-derived macrophages were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) to develop into foam cells. The foam cells were divided into 4 groups: control group, MDL group, Ang-(1-7) group and MDL+Ang-(1-7) group. At 24 h after treatment, the content of cAMP was measured by ELISA. The mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The content of cholesterol was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The cAMP, the mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 in Ang-(1-7) group were significantly higher, and the content of cholesterol was significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). On the contrary, the cAMP, the mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 in MDL group were significantly lower and the content of cholesterol was significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The results in MDL+Ang-(1-7) group were between Ang-(1-7) group and control group. CONCLUSION: Ang-(1-7) inhibits the formation of foam cells by promoting the expression of ABCA1 and decreasing the content of cholesterol. MDL partly antagonizes the effect of Ang-(1-7) by inhibiting the adenylate cyclase and decreasing the content of cAMP.     

Effect of astragalus polysaccharides on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells

AIM: To study the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (Aps) on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. METHODS: After exposed to Aps at different doses, cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 protein levels in cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells were determined by a γ counter and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Aps increased cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells with dose dependent pattern and resulted in an increase in the expression of ABCA1 protein in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. CONCLUSION: The increase in cholesterol efflux by Aps might be related to the up-regulation of ABCA1.     

Oxysterols downregulate tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase -1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of oxysterols on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS:Rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were culturedin vitroand incubated with cholesterol, Triol and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH), respectively. Slot blot was used to detect the mRNA expression level of TIMP-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); meanwhile the protein expression level of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was detected by immunohistology. RESULTS:Triol and 25-OH inhibited the expression of TIMP-1 compared with control and cholesterol, but have no effect on expression of MMP-9. CONCLUSION:Both Triol and 25-OH downregulated TIMP-1 expression in VSMCs.     

Effect of homocysteine on the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α in THP-1 monocytes

AIM: To investigate whether homocysteine (HCY) induce the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α(MIP-1α)in cultured THP-1 monocytes. METHODS: After exposure of THP-1 monocytes to HCY at increasing concentrations (0.05,0.1 and 0.2 mmol/L) for 8 h, or at 0.1 mmol/L of HCY for different incubation times (4, 8 and 16 h), the expressions of MIP-1α mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: RT-PCR showed that the expression of MIP-1α mRNA increased with the concentrations of HCY compared with the control group. Meanwhile, after the treatment of 0.1 mmol/L HCY to the cells for different times, the MIP-1α mRNA expression increased at 4 h, peaked at 8 h, and then decreased at 16 h. The authenticity of RT-PCR products was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Image analysis of Immunocytochemistry assay showed the expression of MIP-1α protein in experimental groups increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner(P＜0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HCY induced monocytes to express MIP-1α mRNA and protein.     

Role of nuclear factor κB on the expression of interleukin-6 in mouse mesangial cells induced by interleukin-1β

AIM:To investigate the regulatory role of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in the expression of interleukin-6 in mesangial cells (MC) induced by interleukin-1β.METHODS:Activation of NF-κB was measured by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). RT/PCR and ELISA were used to detect IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 production, respectively.RESULTS:rhIL-1β could rapidly stimulate the activation of NF-κB in MC, and increase the expression of IL-6 mRNA and protein. PDTC, one of the inhibitor of NF-κB, could inhibit the expression of IL-6 in mRNA and protein in MC stimulated by rhIL-1β.CONCLUSION:IL-6 expression induced by IL-1β may be regulated by NF-κB in MC, NF-κB may modulate the immune-inflammatory reaction in glomerular disease.     

Effect of homocysteine on expression of interleukin-8 mRNA and protein in THP-1 macrophages

AIM: To investigate the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA and protein in THP-1-derived macrophages (THP-1 macrophages). METHODS: Cultured THP-1 monocytes were induced to macrophages by 0.1 μmol/L PMA treatment for 72 hours, then the differentiated THP-1 macrophages were incubated with homocysteine (0.01 mmol/L-0.20 mmol/L) for 24 hours, or with 0.10 mmol/L Hcy for various time up to 48 hours. IL-8 protein in THP-1 supernatants was measured by ELISA, and IL-8 mRNA expression was detected by semiquantitive RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with control, Hcy significantly increased the expression of IL-8 protein in a concentration-dependent manner. 0.05 mmol/L, 0.10 mmol/L and 0.20 mmol/L Hcy increased IL-8 production by 1.28 fold, 1.32 fold and 1.55 fold, respectively (P＜0.01). IL-8 production were elevated significantly 3 h after treatment with 0.10 mmol/L Hcy. In addition, Hcy also increased IL-8 mRNA expression in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Hcy may contribute to atherogenesis by inducing IL-8 expression and secretion in THP-1 macrophages.