Role of NF-κB in endothelial cell damage and apoptosis induced by septic plasma

AIM：To explore the involvement of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in septic plasma (SP)-induced endothelial cell damage and apoptosis. METHODS：Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with SP from sepsis patients or normal plasma (NP) from healthy controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay were used to examine the phosphorylation and activity of NF-κB, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS：The levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in SP were significantly higher than those in NP. Treatment of HUVECs with 10%, 20%, and 30% SP resulted in increased production of vWF from HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner within certain time window. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 100 μmol/L), a selective inhibitor of NF-κB activation, inhibited the induction of vWF production from HUVECs activated by SP. SP increased phosphorylation and activity of NF-κB, and induced apoptosis of HUVECs, which was enhanced by PDTC.CONCLUSION: NF-κB is involved in endothelial cell damage induced by septic plasma and inhibits the apoptosis.