Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Ouabain ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Extensive monocyte recruitment is an early phenomenon associated with the development of atherosclerotic lesion. Although the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood, monocyte recruitment into these early lesions may involve changes in endothelial adhesion for monocyte, in which adhesion molecules expressed by endothelial cell play an active role. In vivo, the function of endothelial cells is not only affected by the chemical factors, but also by the mechanical factors. The purpose of this article was to investigate the induction of adhesion molecules expression by synergistic effects of Lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC) and shear stress in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The surface expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin on HUVEC induced by Lyso-PC(30 micrograms/ml) and shear stress(2.23, 4.20 dyne/cm2) were analyzed using flow cytometry. The results showed that: Compared with what were simultaneously exposed to shear stress and Lyso-PC, activating the cells with Lyso-PC prior to shear stress, or pre-conditioning the cells exposed shear stress prior to Lyso-PC incubation, a significantly higher expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1(P < 0.05) was resulted. HUVEC were exposed to shear stress and Lyso-PC at the same time or treated with each agonist alone, E-selectin expression was not significantly different from the control group. However, a sequential action of the two stimuli significantly increased E-selectin expression(P < 0.05). We concluded that: a sequential action of the shear stress and Lyso-PC induced an even greater expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, thus it could be understood that the flows-hear stress in combination with endothelial activated by chemical factors may increase the ability of endothelial cells to recruit leukocytes even under the mechanical environment unfavorable for cell adhesion.
Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; pharmacology ; Stress, Mechanical ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angelicanaphtha on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and collagen synthesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSHUVEC was cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and treated with angelicanaphtha 1 mg/ L, 4 mg/L, and 16 mg/L at 1, 3, 5, and 7 day respectively. The proliferation was measured with MTT method. The cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry and collagen synthesis was determined with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe proliferation of the HUVEC was accelerated by angelicanaphtha < or =4 mg/L and inhibited by angelicanaphtha at 16 mg/L (P < 0.05). Lower concentration (< or = 4 mg/L) of Angelicanaphtha decreased cells in G0/G1 phase and increased significantly cells in S phase and inhibited the apoptosis (P < 0.05). However, angelicanaphtha at 16 mg/L increased cells in G0/G1 phase and decreased cells in S phase and induced the apoptosis (P < 0.05). The collagen synthesis of HUVEC was inhibited by angelicanaphtha in concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe proliferation effects of angelicanaphtha on HUVEC had dualistic regulation of increase by lower-concentration and inhibition by higher-concentration. Collagen synthesis of HUVEC was inhibited by angelicanaphtha in concentration-dependent manner.

Angelica sinensis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to investigate whether Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha stimulates release of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) by human endothelial cells, and whether EMPs may serve as a promising marker for endothelial injury and dysfunction.

METHODSHuman umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) were incubated with or without TNF-alpha for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. EMPs generated on the surface of HUVEC were observed with a scanning electron microscopy. The CD31 and CD51 positive EMPs in culture supernatants were measured by flow cytometer.

RESULTSFewer vesicles were observed on cell surface of control group, in TNF-alpha-stimulated one, however, cells manifested a blebby surface (eruption phenomenon) and more vesicles on surface were observed. The levels of EMPs were significantly increased in TNF-alpha stimulated cells compared with controls [CD31 + EMP, (164 +/- 63)/1000 cells vs. (42 +/- 10)/1000 cells, P < 0.05; CD51 + EMP, (260 +/- 108)/1000 cells vs. (19 +/- 4)/1000 cells, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha can stimulate HUVEC to release EMPs which may serve as a surrogate marker for endothelial injury and dysfunction.

Cells, Cultured ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of estrogen on the mitochondria in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSHUVECs were exposed to H2O2 at 250 micromol/L for 4 h with or without pretreatment with 17-estradiol (E2) and ICI182780. Complex IV activity of the cells was measured with chromometry, and 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) was used to determine intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level was quantified with a luciferin- and luciferase-based assay.

RESULTSCompared to the blank control group, H2O2 caused a decrease in complex IV activity, intracellular ATP level, and the cell viability, but elevated intracellular ROS. E2 pretreatment of cells significantly attenuated these effects of H2O2 exposure. ICI182780 administered prior to E2 pretreatment antagonized the protective effects of E2 against H2O2 exposure.

CONCLUSIONE2 offers mitochondrial protective effects on HUVECs, which is mediated by the estrogen receptors.

Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of irbesartan on the proliferation, apoptosis, and VEGF mRNA expression of human umbilical vein cell line EA.hy926 in vitro.

METHODSThe human umbilical vein cell line EA.hyY926 were treated with various concentrations of irbesartan for 24 h. The cell proliferation after the treatment was detected by CCK8 assay, flow cytometry and FITC Annexin V/PI kit were used to detect changes in the cell apoptosis. RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of VEGF mRNA.

RESULTSThere were no changes in cell shape with various concentration of irbesartan. CCK-8 assay showed a greater rate of the cell proliferation in irbesartan group than that in control group with a dose-independent manner after 24 h treatment. After incubation with irbesartan, cell proliferation rate was significant (P < 0.05). FCM analysis showed no significantly changes in the cell apoptosis. Irbesartan increased the proliferation of EA.hy926 cells. At concentration of 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6) mol/L, VEGF mRNA expression enhanced either (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIrbesartan could promote the proliferation and up-regulated VEGFmRNA expression in EA.hy926 cell line. This result suggested that in addition to antihypertensive effect, angiotensin receptor antagonist might be a novel therapeutic approach to chronic ischemic heart disease as heart failure.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Biphenyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether Resolvin E1 (RvE1) could protect against ox-LDL-induced injury on human vein vascular endothelial cells and reveal related molecular mechanisms.

METHODSHuman vein vascular endothelial cells were randomly assigned to six groups, which were treated with saline, RvE1, wortmanin, ox-LDL, ox-LDL and RvE1, ox-LDL and RvE1 and wortmanin, respectively. After 48 h, survival rates were determined by MTT, apoptosis rate of cells were determined by flow cytometry, TNF-α contents were assayed by ELISA, caspase 3 and 9 activities were measured by microplate reader, and the expression of p-AKT and LOX-1 were determined by Western blot.

RESULTCompared with normal saline group, survival rate was markedly decreased and apoptosis rate, TNF-α content, caspase 3 and 9 activities, and the expression of LOX-1 were significantly increased in ox-LDL group (P < 0.01). Survival rate was significantly increased and apoptosis rate, TNF-α content, caspase 3 and 9 activities, and the expression of LOX-1 were significantly decreased in ox-LDL + RvE1 group compared to ox-LDL group (P < 0.01), these beneficial effects of RvE1 could be blocked by PI3K inhibitor wortmanin (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe present data showed that RvE1 could effectively protect against ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury, which might be mediated by PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; adverse effects ; Signal Transduction ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the penetrating ability of fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

METHODSTwo prokaryotic expression plasmids pET15b-EGFP and pET15b-PEP-1-EGFP were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to express EGFP and fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP, respectively. The expressed EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP were purified with Ni(2+) -resin affinity chromatography, and their capabilities of transduction into human umbilical vein endothelial cells were evaluated. The time- and dose-dependent transduction of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP and its stability in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells were observed. The toxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP was detected by MTT method.

RESULTSEGFP failed to be transduced into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, whereas PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein was transduced into cells shortly in 5 minutes. Its transduction was time- and dose-dependent and the fluorescence in the cells were detected even 27 hours later. No cytotoxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was detected even when the dose reached up to 200 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONPEP-1-EGFP fusion protein can efficiently transduce the target protein into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which provides a basis for future researches on the transduction of antioxidant enzymes mediated by the cell-penetrating peptide, PEP-1, in ischemia-reperfusion injury therapy.

Cells, Cultured ; Cysteamine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

This study sought to elucidate whether Rac1 mediates the migration of endothelial cell induced by IL-8. The Transwell chamber motility assay was conducted to disclose the effect of different matrigel dilution and different time of IL-8 treatment on the migration of endothelial cells. The mRNA of Rac1 was detected by RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that when the concentration of Matrigel was 1:2, there is significant difference on the amounts of migration cells than that of the concentration of 1:3 or 1:8; When the dilution of Matrigel was 1:4, 1:5 or 1:6, there is no significant difference on the amounts of migration cells than that of other dilution groups. So we choose the Matrigel concentration as 1:4. With the increase of IL-8 stimulation time, the cells which migrated from upper reservoirs to lower reservoirs progressively increased. After six hours stimulation by IL-8, the expression of Rac1 mRNA in migrated cells was increased, compared with that of other groups. The results suggest that Rac1 may mediate the migration of endothelial cells induced by IL-8. It can also be the foundation for further investigation on the role of Rac1 in the migration of endothelial cells induced by IL-8.
Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; metabolism ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics