Effect of homocysteine on NF-kappaB activity in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells / 浙江大学学报·医学版

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat VSMCs were stimulated with 0.25 mmol/L Hcy. Cells were collected and nuclear protein was extracted at 30 min, 1 h and 2 h following stimulation. NF-kappaB activity was examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Baseline NF-kappaB nuclear binding in VSMCs increased more than 1.76-fold at 30 min (P<0.01), 1.91-fold at 1h (P<0.01) and 1.84-fold at 2 h (P<0.01) following stimulation of Hcy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hcy can enhance transient mobilization of N-kappaB in VSMCs, which suggests that some regulating effect of Hcy on VSMCs might be exerted through NF-kappaB activation pathway.</p>