Effect of N,N-dimethylsphingosine on the expression of adhesion molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EA.hy926

AIM: To investigate whether and how N, N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) plays a role in modulating the adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelial cells, and identify whether human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EA.hy926 take place of the vascular endothelial cells.METHODS: Adhesion ratio was measured by flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ICAM-1 and P-selectin in HUVEC: EA.hy926 cells after the effect of DMS. RESULTS: DMS inhibited the adhesion of monocytes to HUVEC: EA.hy926 cells in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner by reducing the expression of ICAM-1 and P-selectin. CONCLUSIONS: DMS reduced adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelial cells. DMS may be an important contributor to reduce adhesion ratio, suggesting that DMS plays a negative role in proinflammatory and immune functions of the modified vascular endothelial cells during atherosclerosis and restenosis.