Angiopoietin-1 reduces VEGF-stimulated leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells by reducing ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin expression

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) are potent vasculogenic and angiogenic factors that hold promise as a means to produce therapeutic vascularization and angiogenesis. However, VEGF also acts as a proinflammatory cytokine by inducing adhesion molecules that bind leukocytes to endothelial cells, an initial and essential step toward inflammation. In the present study, we used human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) to examine the effect of Ang1 on VEGF-induced expression of three adhesion molecules: intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Interestingly, Ang1 suppressed VEGF-induced expression of these adhesion molecules. Furthermore, Ang1 reduced VEGF-induced leukocyte adhesion to HUVECs. These results demonstrate that Ang1 counteracts VEGF-induced inflammation by reducing VEGF-induced endothelial adhesiveness.     

Tibolone inhibits leukocyte adhesion molecule expression in human endothelial cells

Tibolone is a synthetic steroid with mixed estrogenic and progestogenic/androgenic activity used for post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Since its cardiovascular effects are still not clear, and no data have been published on possible direct actions on the vessel wall, we studied the effects of tibolone and its metabolites on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules on human endothelial cells. Tibolone and its two estrogenic 3alpha-OH and 3beta-OH metabolites, but not the progestogenic/androgenic Delta(4)-isomer, concentration-dependently decreased LPS-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 protein expression. This effect was estrogen receptor dependent, since it was completely blocked by the pure estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182780. Furthermore, only tibolone, the 3alpha-OH and the 3beta-OH metabolites decreased endothelial expression of E-selectin, while none of the compounds changed the levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1. These findings were associated with parallel changes in mRNA levels for the three adhesion molecules. Our data show that tibolone and its estrogenic metabolites exert direct actions on the vascular wall, decreasing the expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules, thus producing potentially important direct anti-atherogenic effects.     

Aprotinin inhibits platelet adhesion to endothelial cells.

Studies were conducted to assess the effect of the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin on platelet adherence to both thrombin-stimulated and unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Aprotinin treatment reduced significantly the adherence of platelets to endothelium pretreated or not with thrombin. In addition, aprotinin similarly reduced the adherence of platelets to plastic or collagen-coated tissue culture wells suggesting that the main site of action of the drug in this system is on the platelets. The role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF; nitric oxide) in these platelet-endothelium reactions was investigated by prior incubation of both platelets and endothelial cells with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) which prevents the production of nitric oxide. The results demonstrated that nitric oxide was a significant inhibitor of the thrombin-induced platelet adherence in this assay system. Treatment with aprotinin in the presence or absence of L-NMMA reduced adherence of platelets to equivalent levels suggesting that aprotinin acts directly on the platelets via a mechanism that is EDRF-independent, to inhibit adherence.     

Verotoxin-1 promotes leukocyte adhesion to cultured endothelial cells under physiologic flow conditions

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the most common cause of acute renal failure in infants and small children, is caused by verotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli infection. Endothelial injury determines microvascular thrombosis and evidence is available from recent studies that suggests that leukocyte activation participates in endothelial damage. We studied here the effect of VT-1 on leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium under physiologic flow conditions. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated for 24 hours with VT-1 (0.1, 1, and 10 pmol/L) and then exposed to a total leukocyte suspension in a parallel plate flow chamber under laminar flow conditions (1.5 dynes/cm2). Adherent cells were counted by digital image processing. Results showed that VT-1 dose-dependently increased the number of adhering leukocytes to HUVECs as compared with unstimulated cells. The adhesive response elicited by VT-1 was comparable to that of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), one of the most potent inducers of endothelial cell adhesiveness. Exposure of HUVECs to VT-1 did not affect the number of rolling leukocytes, which was similar to that of control values. To examine the role of adhesion molecules in VT-1-induced leukocyte adhesion, HUVECs were incubated with mouse monoclonal antibodies against E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) before adhesion assay. Functional blocking of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells significantly inhibited VT-1-induced increase in leukocyte adhesion. In some experiments, before VT-1 incubation, HUVECs were pretreated for 24 hours with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha; 100 U/mL), which is known to increase VT receptor expression on HUVECs. The number of adhering leukocytes on HUVECs exposed to TNF alpha and VT-1 significantly increased as compared with HUVECs incubated with VT-1 and TNF alpha alone. These results suggest that VT-1 modulates leukocyte-endothelium interaction, thus increasing leukocyte adhesion and upregulating adhesive proteins on endothelial surface membrane.     

Simvastatin alters human endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression and inhibits leukocyte adhesion under flow

Hypercholesterolaemia is implicated as an independent risk factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are prescribed for their lipid-lowering effects but recent evidence suggests they have pleiotropic effects independent of lipid balance regulation that may explain their role in dramatically decreasing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The mechanisms responsible are unclear but endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is critical. To investigate potential anti-inflammatory properties of statins on EC, functional responses of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human neutrophils under physiological flow conditions were studied. These interactions were quantified in response to inflammatory mediators following pre-treatment with statin.Histamine stimulation resulted in significant (p < 0.001) increases in transient interactions between neutrophils and EC (tethering). These effects were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) on pre-treatment with statin. TNF-α stimulation resulted in significant (p < 0.001) increases in rolling interactions. These effects were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced following pre-treatment of EC with statin. Mevalonate pre-treatment of EC significantly reversed the effects of statin pre-treatment on both tethering and rolling (p < 0.001).Reductions in surface expression of P- and E-selectin were confirmed by ELISA. EC exposed to histamine demonstrated significantly increased (p < 0.01) levels of P-selectin, abrogated (p < 0.001) by pre-treatment with statin. EC exposed to TNF-α demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.001) in levels of E-selectin, reduced (p < 0.05) by pre-treatment with statin.     

Bucillamine inhibits T cell adhesion to human endothelial cells.

We investigated the ability of bucillamine [N-(2-mercapto-2-methyl-propionyl)-L-cysteine] to prevent T cell adhesion to endothelial cells (EC) isolated from human umbilical vein. When EC were pretreated with bucillamine, T cell binding to the EC was suppressed in a dose dependent fashion. The T cells could bind preferentially to recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) treated EC compared with untreated EC. Bucillamine could also suppress T cell binding to rIFN-gamma treated EC as well as untreated EC. Addition of copper sulfate to bucillamine decreased significantly the percent T cell adhesion to the EC compared with bucillamine alone. The magnitude of inhibition by bucillamine and copper sulfate was similar in EC treated with rIFN-gamma as well as in untreated EC. H2O2 also inhibited the T cell binding to both untreated and rIFN-gamma treated EC. The inhibitory effects of bucillamine with or without copper sulfate on T cell binding to EC were abolished completely by catalase but not by superoxide dismutase. Our results suggest that hydrogen peroxide generated by bucillamine, with or without copper sulfate, inhibits T cell binding to EC. We believe, therefore, that bucillamine may suppress inflammation, such as that in rheumatoid synovitis, by reducing the emigration of chronic inflammatory cells from capillaries into tissue.     

Degranulation of human mast cells induces an endothelial antigen central to leukocyte adhesion

To understand better the role of mast cell secretory products in the genesis of inflammation, a system was developed for in vitro degranulation of human mast cells in skin organ cultures. Within 2 hr after morphine sulfate-induced degranulation, endothelial cells lining microvessels adjacent to affected mast cells expressed an activation antigen important for endothelial-leukocyte adhesion. Identical results were obtained when other mast cell secretagogues (anti-IgE, compound 48/80, and calcium ionophore A23187) were used. Induction of this antigen was abrogated by preincubation with cromolyn sodium, an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, and by antiserum to tumor necrosis factor alpha. These findings indicate that degranulation of mast cells activates dermal endothelium through tumor necrosis factor-dependent mechanisms. This event may be critical to the elicitation phase of cutaneous inflammation.     

Osteoprotegerin increases leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo

Recombinant osteoprotegerin (OPG) promoted the adhesion of both primary polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and leukemic HL60 cells to endothelial cells. Leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesion was promoted by short (peak at 1 hour) preincubation of either endothelial cells or PMNs with OPG, and the peak of proadhesive activity was observed in the same range of OPG concentrations detected in the sera of patients affected by cardiovascular diseases. Although the cognate high-affinity ligands for OPG, membrane receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), were detected at significant levels on both PMNs and HL60 cells, they were not expressed on the surface of endothelial cells. However, preincubation of OPG with heparin abrogated its proadhesive activity, whereas pretreatment of endothelial cells with chondroitinase plus heparinases significantly decreased the proadhesive activity of OPG. Taken together, these findings suggest the involvement of both the ligand binding and the N-terminal heparin-binding domains of OPG in mediating its pro-adhesive activity. The relevance of these in vitro findings was underscored by in vivo experiments, in which the topical administration of recombinant OPG increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion to rat mesenteric postcapillary venules. Our data suggest that a pathological increase of OPG serum levels might play an important role in promoting leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesion.     

Irbesartan inhibits advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced up-regulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) mRNA levels in glomerular endothelial cells

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a central role in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. There is a growing body of evidence that advanced glycation end products (AGE) and inflammation contribute to diabetic nephropathy as well. However, the pathophysiological crosstalk between the RAS and AGE in inflammatory reactions in glomerular endothelial cells (ECs) remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether and how irbesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), inhibited the AGE-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) gene expression in cultured human glomerular ECs. Irbesartan or an anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine inhibited the AGE-induced increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequently blocked up-regulation of VCAM-1 mRNA levels in glomerular ECs. AGE significantly stimulated angiotensin II production by glomerular ECs. Furthermore, irbesartan completely suppressed up-regulation of VCAM-1 mRNA levels in AGE plus angiotensin II-exposed glomerular ECs. Our present data suggest that there exists a crosstalk between the RAS and AGE in inflammatory reactions in glomerular ECs. Irbesartan may play a protective role against diabetic nephropathy by blocking the deleterious effects of AGE-elicited angiotensin II and ROS.     

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease1/redox factor-1 inhibits monocyte adhesion in endothelial cells

OBJECTIVE: Expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells and subsequent monocyte adhesion are initial events in the development of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of apurinic/apyrmidinic endonuclease1/redox factor-1 (APE1/ref-1) in the interaction of monocytes with vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with an adenovirus encoding human APE1/ref-1. The effect of APE1/ref-1 overexpression on monocyte adhesion, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) protein expression, and intracellular superoxide production in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-activated HUVECs was examined. RESULTS: Adhesion of the monocytic cell line U937 to TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVECs in which APE1/ref-1 was overexpressed was suppressed. APE1/ref-1 overexpression also suppressed expression of VCAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha. APE1/ref-1-mediated suppression of VCAM-1 was blocked by pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor l-nitroarginine methyl ester. Furthermore, APE1/ref-1 overexpression inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced increase in intracellular superoxide and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that APE1/ref-1 in endothelial cells mitigates TNF-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecules, and this anti-adhesive property of APE1/ref-1 is primarily mediated by a NOS-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, APE1/ref-1 may inhibit VCAM-1 expression by inhibiting superoxide production and p38 MAPK activation.     

Tetramethylpyrazine inhibits phytohemagglutinin-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 mediated leukocyte adhesion

The aim of this work was to study the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the interaction between lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesive molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by micropipette technique. A pair of cells, i.e., a human lymphocyte or a S KW-3 cell (human T cell leukemia), LFA-1 was expressed on which cellular surfaces, and a RBC coupled with ICAM-1, were the carriers for LFA-1 and ICAM-1. The adhesion probabilities of this pair of cells were mediated by specific interactions between ICAM-1 and LFA-1. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation resulted in the significant increase in the adhesion probability compared to the resting lymphocyte. TMP treatment can inhibit such increase and even make the adhesion probability lower than the resting state. While the LFA-1 expression has not changed significantly with PHA stimulation or with TMP treatment, which indicated that TMP inhibiting effects was realized by a possible conformation change.     

Prostacyclin inhibits adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to human vascular endothelial cells due to adhesion molecule independent regulatory mechanisms

Prostacyclin is an important endothelial mediator involved in the interaction of neutrophils (PMN) with the vessel wall. Many studies have shown the beneficial effects of prostacyclin in ischemia and reperfusion. However, no previous study has investigated the direct effects of the prostacyclin analogs iloprost (ILO) and alprostadil (PGE(1)) on the endothelial part of the adhesion process. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were grown to confluence, stimulated with 300 U/ml TNF-alpha and treated with increasing concentrations of ILO and PGE(1). The cells were washed to remove TNF and the inhibitors and adhesion of fluorescence-green labeled PMN was determined microscopically. ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression were measured by a cell-surface ELISA. The chemoattractant activity of the endothelial cell releasate was tested in a Boyden chamber.ILO and PGE(1) reduced PMN-adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner (ILO: -54 +/- 9 % at 0.5 microM, PGE1: -46 +/- 10 % at 10 microM). However, the surface expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin remained unaltered. When the supernatant of iloprost/PGE(1)-treated cells was transferred onto cells that were activated, but not treated with ILO or PGE(1), the reduction of PMN adhesion remains sustained. These data indicate that the inhibitory effect of ILO/ PGE(1) treatment is achieved by a reduced chemoattractant potential. PAF-antagonists were able to block neutrophil adhesion and mimicked the effect of ILO, while exogenous PAF diminished the inhibitory effect of ILO concentration-dependently. This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of ILO and PGE(1) on inflammatorily activated endothelial cells. These prostacyclin analogs inhibit PMN-adhesion despite maximal adhesion molecule expression by regulating the balance of - yet to be determined - endothelial-derived mediators.     

Rho GTPases and leukocyte adhesion receptor expression and function in endothelial cells

Rho family GTPases are key signal transducers that regulate cell adhesion and migration and a variety of other cellular responses, including changes in gene expression. In this review, we discuss how Rho GTPases regulate signaling by endothelial cell receptors involved in leukocyte extravasation. First, Rho GTPases affect the expression of some leukocyte adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin, that can be induced by proinflammatory mediators, hypoxia, or shear stress. Second, Rho GTPases are activated by engagement of several leukocyte adhesion receptors and contribute to both early morphological changes and subsequent alterations in gene expression. Rho GTPases are therefore candidate targets for inhibiting leukocyte transendothelial migration in heart disease and chronic inflammatory disorders.     

Human eosinophil adherence to vascular endothelium mediated by binding to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1.

Adherence of human eosinophils to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells, which was only partially due to CD18-dependent pathways, was also mediated by binding to endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Eosinophils bound specifically to both recombinant soluble ELAM-1 and recombinant soluble VCAM-1. Eosinophil binding to recombinant soluble VCAM-1 and to transfected CHO cells expressing VCAM-1 was inhibited with anti-VCAM-1 (4B9) and anti-very late activation antigen 4 (anti-VLA-4; HP1/2 or HP2/1) monoclonal antibodies. Eosinophils, but not neutrophils, expressed VLA-4 detected by cytofluorography. Eosinophil adherence to tumor necrosis factor alpha-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells was partially blocked by monoclonal antibodies against ELAM-1 (BB11) and VCAM-1 (4B9) and against VLA-4 (HP2/1). Thus, while both eosinophils and neutrophils can bind to activated endothelial cells by adherence to ICAM-1 and ELAM-1, only eosinophils expressed VLA-4 and adhered to VCAM-1 on activated endothelial cells. Eosinophil adherence to VCAM-1 might provide a mechanism contributing to the selective recruitment of eosinophils into tissue sites of inflammation.     

Selective estrogen receptor modulators: different actions on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in human endothelial cells

Selective estrogen receptors modulators (SERMs) are a series of new compounds exerting estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects in different tissues. 17Beta-estradiol is known to inhibit endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression. We studied the relative effects of the raloxifene analogue LY117018 and of tamoxifen on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced VCAM-1 expression in cultured human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) and on HSVEC adhesiveness towards U937 monocytoid cells. We here demonstrate a concentration-dependent inhibitory action on VCAM-1 protein expression both for 17beta-estradiol and LY117018. The action of both compounds was blocked by the pure anti-estrogen ICI 182,780. LY117018 did not antagonize 17beta-estradiol activity. On the contrary, tamoxifen had no effects of his own. Both 17beta-estradiol and LY117018 inhibited HSVEC VCAM-1 expression at the mRNA level, while tamoxifen was ineffective. Finally, 17beta-estradiol and LY117018, but not tamoxifen, inhibited HSVEC adhesiveness towards U937 monocytoid cells induced by LPS stimulation. Therefore, only some SERMs have potential anti-atherogenic actions exerted directly at the vascular level through the regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules expression and of endothelial-leukocyte interactions.