Leptin induces tissue factor expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: a possible link between obesity and cardiovascular risk?

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Leptin, the hormone synthesized and released primarily by adipose tissue and found increased in obese individuals, has been implicated in the regulation of inflammation and arterial and venous thrombosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of tissue factor (TF), the pivotal agonist of the clotting cascade, as a link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 15 obese patients, plasma levels of leptin and TF as well as TF expression in resting and endotoxin-stimulated mononuclear leukocytes (MN) were increased when compared with healthy donors. In a selected sample of obese patients, loss of body weight led to decreased circulating leptin levels, accompanied by a reduction in plasma TF as well as in TF expression, both in resting and endotoxin-stimulated MN. In subsequent in vitro experiments, leptin was incubated with MN from healthy subjects. Leptin induced TF activity and antigen in a dose-dependent fashion, as assessed by clotting assay and ELISA, respectively. Increased migration of c-Rel/p65 into the nucleus, as determined by EMSA, and development of TF mRNA in monocytes, as assessed by RT-PCR, were observed. Experiments with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, indicated the involvement of p38 and ERK1/2 pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of TF-expressing MN in blood from obese subjects and the in vitro induction of TF by pharmacologic concentrations of leptin in MN from healthy subjects suggest that TF expression by leptin-stimulated monocytes may contribute to the cardiovascular risk associated with obesity.

Inhibition of thromboxane biosynthesis by triflusal in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Triflusal is an antiplatelet drug related to aspirin, with different pharmacological properties and a lower haemorrhagic risk. We aimed at comparing their effects on platelet and endothelial activation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In a randomized, double-blind, parallel group study, we compared the effects of three daily regimens (300, 600, and 900 mg) of triflusal, and aspirin (100mg/day) on urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane (TX)B(2), index of in vivo platelet activation, ex vivo platelet function using the analyzer PFA-100, plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF), P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and serum nitrite and nitrate (NO(2)(-)+NO(3)(-)) in 60 T2DM patients. Triflusal induced a dose-dependent reduction in 11-dehydro-TXB(2) and a prolongation of closure time in the presence of collagen plus epinephrine (Coll/Epi-CT). The effects of the highest triflusal dose were not different from those of aspirin. The closure time in the presence of collagen plus ADP (Coll/ADP-CT), ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and NO(2)(-)+NO(3)(-) were not modified either by triflusal or aspirin. Plasma P-selectin and vWF were reduced by triflusal but not by aspirin. In T2DM triflusal causes a profound inhibition of platelet TXA(2) biosynthesis in vivo, acting on different targets involved in the platelet-endothelial cell interactions.

Increased transforming growth factor-beta production and gene expression by peripheral blood monocytes of hypertensive patients.

Cultured human peripheral blood monocytes are known to secrete and express transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional cytokine that can be involved in myocardial and vascular remodeling. In addition, monocytes/macrophages have been demonstrated to be colocalized with fibrosis of hypertrophied heart and in the vascular wall of hypertensive vessels. In this study, we tested TGF-beta production and mRNA expression in peripheral blood monocytes from hypertensive patients with myocardial hypertrophy and increased carotid myointimal thickness with respect to healthy normotensive control subjects. We found an increased TGF-beta activity in the conditioned medium of monocytes from hypertensive patients compared with control subjects as evaluated by inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation by mink lung epithelial cells (-83% and -18% in hypertensive and normotensive subjects; P<.001). Western blot analysis confirmed a significant difference in the amount of TGF-beta protein secreted in the conditioned medium of hypertensive patients compared with that of normotensive subjects. Finally, we also observed a 4.2- and 5.5-fold increase in the amount of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 transcripts, respectively. Our results indicate an upregulation of the TGF-beta system in the peripheral blood monocytes of hypertensive patients with cardiovascular structural changes, suggesting a possible role of TGF-beta monocyte production in hypertensive disease.

Protein kinase C pathway and proliferative responses of aged and young rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Alterations of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation have been implicated in the age-dependent susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Although it is known that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the mechanism of VSMC proliferation, there are no data on the possible involvement of PKC in disregulating VSMC proliferation in aged vascular cells. We evaluated the proliferative pattern, the PKC responsiveness and the effect of phorbol ester (PMA) treatment on vascular cell growth and cell cycle distribution in VSMCs from young and aged rats. The proliferative response was significantly higher in aged than in young cells after serum stimulation (7.5 vs. 2.8 x 10(4), 18 vs. 12 x 10(4), 26 vs. 22 x 10(4) cells/well, aged vs. young at days 2, 4, 6; P < 0.005). On the contrary, aged cells showed a significant inhibition of DNA synthesis at 48 h incubation with PMA concentrations of 1, 10, 100 nM (-47%, -53%, -58%, respectively) compared with controls (fetal calf serum 0.5%) and cell count (average decrease: -38% from 48 h to 96 h) after treatment with PMA 10 nM. The opposite was observed in young cells on [3H]thymidine incorporation with PMA 1, 10, 100 nM (+52%, +100%, +121%, respectively and cell count (average increase +55% from 48 h to 96 h). In addition, inhibition of the cell cycle from G1 to the S phase and reduction of PKC translocation in aged VSMC were observed. Alterations of PKC function could be involved in the disregulation of aged VSMC proliferation, which seems to characterize the increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis.

Modulation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by cysteinyl leukotriene D4: a role for mediation of interleukin 1.

Recent studies suggest the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the progression of atherosclerosis. Cysteinyl leukotrienes and cytokines could orchestrate this progression by acting on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In cultures of rat VSMC, proliferation was modulated by cysteinyl leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and LTD4, but not LTE4. Co-culturing LTD4 with VSMC produced an increased cell proliferation as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation studies (200%) as well as cell counts (70%), using LTD4 at 10(-6)M compared to controls. LTD4 exerted its effect through an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-dependent autocrine regulatory mechanism. When IL-1 was inhibited by using a receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and a polyclonal antibody to IL-1, we found an inhibition of VSMC proliferation. The increase of VSMC proliferation was associated with the autocrine production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) concomitant to LTD4 stimulation (55.5 +/- 2.5 pg/ml in controls and 177 +/- 0.5 pg/ml in 10(-6)M LTD4). These results may shed new light on the mechanism of inflammatory involvement during atherogenesis, suggesting that the control of cysteinyl leukotrienes may be important in inflammatory processes involving IL-1.

Effect of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

The development of the atheromatous plaque is largely dependent on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and production of biologically active compounds such as cytokines and growth factors. Cytokines such as IL-1 derived from blood vessel wall may contribute to regional defense or pathology. Neutralization of the effects mediated by IL-1 by a receptor antagonist specific for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta has been shown to reduce the possible pathologic consequences induced by IL-1 in the regional environment. The effect of human recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra), a new member of the IL-1 family, has been assessed on modulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation in the rat. A significant dose- and time-dependent reduction of DNA synthesis was observed when hrIL-1ra was added to the cell cultures. The maximum inhibitory effect was seen using IL-1ra at a concentration of 250 ng/ml and after 48 h incubation with cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, hrIL-1ra inhibited VSMC growth in the presence of exogenous mitogenic doses of IL-1 alpha. The addition of indomethacin to the cultures did not modify the inhibitory events. These data suggest a possible pharmacologic role for IL-1ra in inhibiting VSMC proliferation by possibly interfering with the autocrine regulatory pathway of IL-1.

Transforming growth factor beta1 induces IL-1 receptor antagonist production and gene expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory-fibroproliferative process that may represent a possible milieu in which transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) can be involved. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) may represent a source or a target of a large number of growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 and its receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). We tested the effect of TGF-beta1, on IL-1Ra production and gene expression in rat VSMC cultures. We found a significant dose (3-30 ng/ml) and time-dependent (0-48 h) increase in IL-1Ra immunoactivity in the supernatant of conditioned medium and cell lysates. The maximal effect was observed with TGF-beta at 30 ng/ml and after 24 h incubation time, respect to untreated cells (320 +/- 26 vs. 211 +/- 20 pg/ml; P < 0.01). Furthermore, TGF-beta1 induced an increased mRNA expression which began at 2 h and peaked at 18 h incubation time (about a 6-fold increase with respect to unstimulated cells). The effect of TGF-beta1 on IL-1Ra production was completely inhibited by an anti-IL-1beta antibody (10 microg/ml) (from 320 +/- 81 to 181 +/- 46 pg/ml). These experiments suggest that TGF-beta1, potentially produced in the vascular wall during atherogenesis, may play a pathophysiological role in the autocrine control of IL-1 actions, via VSMC IL-1Ra production.

Increased type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor expression in liver cells during cholesterol challenge.

A large body of evidences implicates transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this context, TGF-beta receptor dysfunction has been suggested to be relevant. We tested the effect of hypercholesterolemia, a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis, on liver type II TGF-beta receptor (TbetaR-II) expression in atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 mouse strain fed atherogenic diet. In addition, the relationship between cholesterol and TbetaR-II expression was verified by cholesterol challenge on human hepatoma cell (HepG2) cultures. The susceptible C57BL/6 mice fed atherogenic diet exhibited significant mRNA and immunohistochemical TbetaR-II liver expression at 2, 5, 9 and 15 weeks as compared to animals fed a regular diet. The TbetaR-II profile on HepG2 resulted in a time-dependent increased expression when the cells were incubated with soluble free cholesterol, associated with an increased TGF-beta-dependent biological activity as detected by luciferase assay of reporter gene. These data provide evidence for a cholesterol-dependent TbetaR-II induction that may play a potentially relevant role in the development of hypercholesterolemia and atherogenesis.

Differences in the glutathione system of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells from young and aged rats.

We studied the relation between the glutathione (GSH) system and cell proliferation in a model of smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from the thoracic aorta of 4-6-week-old (young) and 15-month-old (aged) rats. SMC from aged rats showed greater levels of total non-protein thiol compounds (T-SH), increased glutathione transferase (GST) and increased glutathione reductase (GSSG-Red) activities compared with cells from young rats. These changes were associated with an increased proliferation rate of SMC from aged rats. To evaluate the role of GSH on cell proliferation better, a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl-cystein synthetase, DL-buthionine-SR-sulphoximine (BSO) was used. BSO showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, with an IC50 of 10(-4) M, after 48-72 h of incubation. Removal of BSO restored cell growth, further suggesting a link between GSH levels and vascular cell proliferation. The inhibitory effect of BSO was about two times greater on SMC from young than on SMC from aged rats. BSO showed 56% inhibition on the proliferation of SMC from young rats and 32% inhibition on SMC from aged rats (10(-4) M, 72 h of incubation). A parallel reduction of GSH levels of 38% and 19% for SMC from young and aged rats, respectively, was observed, suggesting that age-related factors may influence the involvement of GSH system in cell proliferation.

Cysteinyl-leukotriene D4 induced IL-1 beta expression and release in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular cells, including smooth muscle cells (VSMC), may release interleukin 1 (IL-1) and transcribe its genes for both isoforms. Previous studies have shown that cysteinyl-leukotrienes can modulate cytokine production by monocytes and a cytokine-eicosanoid network has been suggested during atherosclerosis. In this study the effects of cysteinyl-leukotriene D4 (LTD4) on IL-1 beta production and IL-1 beta mRNA expression were tested on rat VSMC. LTD4 showed a significant dose-dependent (from basal production of 55 +/- 15 pg/ml to maximal production of 177 +/- 14 pg/ml) and time-dependent (peaking at 24 h 16 +/- 54 pg/ml) increase of IL-1 beta immunoreactivity in the supernatants of conditioned medium and cell lysates. Furthermore, LTD4 induced an increased mRNA expression which began at 1 h and peaked at 12 h incubation time. The production of IL-1 beta was inhibited by MK-571 (from 145 +/- 12 to 60 +/- 10 pg/ml), a specific receptor antagonist of LTD4 and partially reduced by IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 ra) (from 160 +/- 12 to 85 +/- 5 pg/ml). These experiments suggest that cysteinyl-leukotrienes, potentially produced in the vascular wall by leukocytes or by transcellular metabolism, may be involved in local IL-1 production.

Effect of lipid-lowering treatment on factor VII profile in hyperlipidemic patients.

A link has been suggested between blood lipids and hemostatic activation. Factor VII (FVII) is a coagulation factor which plays a pivotal role in fibrin generation and thrombus formation. Clinical trials have demonstrated that inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase greatly reduce cardiovascular events in patients with and without coronary artery disease but few data, at this time, are available on the effects of lipid-lowering treatment on factor VII levels. We studied thirty-six IIA and IIB type hyperlipidemic patients who, after a preliminary period of lipid-lowering diet, added atorvastatin (20 mg/daily) or continued dietary treatment alone until they achieved LDL-C recommended levels (<4 mmol/L). Four to six weeks of lipid lowering treatment with diet plus atorvastatin, produced a significant reduction in FVII coagulant activity (FVIIc) and antigen (FVIIAg). No significant changes were observed in activated FVII (FVIIa). The lipid-lowering treatment with diet alone induced an improved lipid pattern, but no significant changes in FVII profile. Our study suggests a significant effect of lipid-lowering treatment on FVII levels. A possibile nonlipid mechanism that modifies FVII pathway may be suggested.

Cysteinyl leukotriene D4 induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation: a possible role in myointimal hyperplasia.

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (i.e. LTC4, LTD4), produced by activated leukocytes or by transcellular metabolism may act at different levels on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) during inflammatory process or atherosclerosis. We studied the effect of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 on the in vitro proliferation of rat VSMC, measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell count. LTD4 had a stronger stimulatory effect on [3H]-thymidine incorporation than LTC4, whereas LTE4 was inactive. The effect of LTD4 on [3H]-thymidine incorporation was dose-dependent, with the maximal activity at 10(-6) M. The stimulatory activity of LTD4 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by MK-571, a specific LTD4 receptor antagonist. In addition, MK-571 (1 mg/kg/day) given for at least 1 day after injury in a model of balloon catheter injury of rat carotid artery, provided effective inhibition of myointimal VSMC proliferation, with a 58% reduction of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake in the neointima and 69% reduction of neointimal thickening. Our data support the importance of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest a possible role for cysteinyl leukotrienes, specifically LTD4, in the control of VSMC proliferation.

Haemostatic abnormalities, cardiac involvement and serum tumor necrosis factor levels in X-linked dystrophic patients.

Left ventricular thrombosis and systemic emboli have been demonstrated to complicate cardiomyopathy in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD, BMD). We investigated plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2). thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a procoagulant cytokine that has been shown to be elevated in patients with depressed cardiac function, in 20 patients with DMD and 12 patients with BMD as compared with 30 age-matched control subjects. Significantly elevated levels of F1+2 (DMD: 1.4+/-0.8 nmol/l; BMD: 1.8+/-0.8 nmol/l vs. controls: 0.7+/-0.2 nmol/l, p <0.01 and p <0.001, respectively), TAT complexes (DMD: 4.7+/-2.7 microg/l, BMD: 5+/-2.3 microg/l vs. controls: 1.6+/-0.5 microg/l, p <0.001) and TNF-alpha (54+/-9 vs. 25+/-7 pg/ml, p <0.001) were observed in patients with the dystrophic disease compared to control subjects. A significantly negative correlation was also found between F1+2 and TAT complexes and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.65, p <0.0001; r = -0.80, p < 0.0001, respectively) and a positive correlation between F1+2 and TAT complexes and serum TNF-alpha levels (r = 0.67, p <0.0001; r = 0.70, p <0.0001, respectively). Our results indicate a hypercoagulable state in X-linked dystrophic patients. A possible relationship between haemostatic activation, left ventricular dysfunction and TNF-alpha system upregulation may be suggested.

Myocardial antioxidant defense mechanisms: time related changes after reperfusion of the ischemic rat heart.

It is well known that reperfusion damage of ischemic myocardium may be attributed to alterations in the antioxidant defense system against free radical aggression. In addition, the degree of myocardial damage may depend on the duration and severity of ischemia that precedes reperfusion. We carried out serial ischemic experiments (10, 30, 60 and 120 min) in ex-vivo rat hearts followed by 30 min reperfusion and we assayed the glutathione-dependent enzymatic activities (selenium-dependent glutathione-peroxidase: GSH-Px; selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase: GST-Px; glutathione-transferase: GST and glutathione-reductase: GS-SG-Red), Catalase activity (CAT) and non-proteic thiol compounds (NP-SH) at the end of reperfusion. We found a significant reduction of NP-SH, GSH-Px and CAT in ischemic/reperfused hearts from 30 min on, while GST activity was increased. In addition, we observed the appearance of a selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity (GST-Px) belonging to the GST system. In conclusion, we found the longer the duration of ischemia the greater the inbalance between the myocardial antioxidant system especially the GST activation, suggesting in particular for GST-Px, a role in the control of the damage against oxygen toxicity during ischemia/reperfusion.

Microsatellite polymorphism of the human leptin gene (LEP) and risk of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: No data have been so far reported on the relationship between polymorphisms of LEP gene and cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We genotyped a tetranucleotide repeat mapped in the 3'UTR of the LEP gene (LEP-tet) in 109 subjects with cardiovascular events and in 109 control subjects. RESULTS: Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, history of hyperlipidemia, hypertension or diabetes showed not significant association between the genotype of the LEP-tet and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, no differences were observed in the plasma leptin concentrations between cases and control subjects (22 +/- 19 vs 22 +/- 14 ng/ml, P = 0.52) and in relation to the LEP-tet classes or carriage of specific alleles (P = 0.76 for the association between LEP-tet classes and leptin levels in overall analysis). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data do not support an association between the LEP-tet microsatellite polymorphism of the human LEP gene and cardiovascular diseases.

Expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and substance P in human chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Changes in substance P content and a relationship between the degree of perineural inflammation and pain has been demonstrated in chronic pancreatitis. Whether a relationship exists between neural alteration and pancreatic inflammation (neurogenic inflammation) is not known. AIMS: In the present study we evaluated gene expression of preprotachykinin A (PPT-A), the gene encoding substance P, and interleukin 8, a proinflammatory and hyperalgesic mediator whose release is co-regulated by substance P. PATIENTS: Pancreatic tissue specimens obtained from 21 patients (16 male, five female) with chronic pancreatitis and 18 healthy organ donors (nine male, nine female) were analysed. METHODS: Gene expression of PPT-A and interleukin 8 was studied by northern blot analysis. Respective proteins were localised using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Northern blot analysis showed that PTT-A mRNA expression levels were present at comparable levels in normal and chronic pancreatitis tissue samples. In contrast, interleukin 8 mRNA was expressed at very low levels in normal controls but was increased 41-fold (p<0. 001) in chronic pancreatitis tissue samples. Using immunohistochemistry, interleukin 8 protein was localised mainly in immune cells often found around enlarged pancreatic nerves. In addition, in chronic pancreatitis, intense interleukin 8 immunostaining was present in metaplastic ductal cells of the atrophic pancreatic parenchyma. In chronic pancreatitis samples there was a positive relationship between interleukin 8 mRNA levels and the presence of ductal metaplasia (r=0.795; p<0.001) and the inflammation score (r=0.713; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that in chronic pancreatitis, the increase in substance P in enlarged pancreatic nerves is not caused by enhanced intrapancreatic PTT-A mRNA expression, suggesting that the location of substance P synthesis is outside of the pancreas. In addition, localisation of interleukin 8 positive immune cells around pancreatic nerves further supports the existence of neuroimmune interactions as a pathophysiological mechanism in chronic pancreatitis.

Antiproliferative effect of desferrioxamine on vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth is a primary component of accelerated and spontaneous atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that iron may be involved in the control of enzymatic activities that modulate DNA synthesis in human cells. In this study the effects of the iron chelator desferrioxamine on in vitro and in vivo VSMC proliferation were tested. Rat VSMCs in culture and a rabbit model of carotid artery balloon injury were used. Desferrioxamine showed a significant inhibitory effect on [3H]thymidine incorporation in cell cultures that was antagonized by iron supplementation. Desferrioxamine also provided effective preventive myointimal VSMC proliferation as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine labeling and morphometric analysis of endoluminal stenosis. These experiments suggested that iron may be involved in the control of VSMC proliferation and that desferrioxamine may have a role in preventing VSMC growth and myointimal proliferative lesions.

Down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in human monocytes.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of prostanoids from arachidonic acid. Two isoforms of COX have been described in mammalian cells, referred to as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-1 is a constitutively expressed enzyme; COX-2 is an inducible enzyme that appears to be expressed in inflamed tissue and following exposure to growth factors or cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1). The aim of the present study was to test if the antagonism on the binding of IL-1 to its cell-surface receptor by human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (hrIL-1ra) may control the COX mRNA expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by human monocyte cultures. Northern blot studies showed that hrIL-ra (500 ng/ml) had a strong inhibitory effect on inducible COX activity. The effect was evident after 6 hr incubation (2.7-fold decrease of mRNA COX-2 transcripts); and about a threefold decrease at 24hr incubation. A non-significant effect was observed with COX-1 transcripts. Induced PGE2 production by monocyte cultures treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was strongly inhibited in the presence of hrIL-1ra (500 ng/ml). In addition, a significant inhibition of COX-2 protein expression, as evaluated by Western blotting, was also observed. These data suggest that hrIL-1ra may be the key mediator in the down-regulation of the COX-2 inducible pathway.

Monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) is a mitogen for cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

The involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the progression of atherosclerosis has recently been suggested. Monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) is a soluble protein which is implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory processes, including atherosclerosis. We evaluated the effect of human recombinant MCP-1 on the in vitro proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Incubation of VSMCs with MCP-1 (50-200 ng/ml) in the presence of 0.5% FCS significantly increased cell proliferation, [3H]-thymidine incorporation and the proliferative S fraction, measured by flow cytometry, compared to control cells. The proliferative effect of MCP-1 was specific, as shown by inhibition with a rabbit polyclonal serum to MCP-1. Moreover, the mitogenic effect of MCP-1 was significantly inhibited by downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and by incubation with H-7, a protein kinase inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of the PKC system. Verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, also reduced the stimulatory effect of MCP-1 on cell proliferation. This study demonstrates that MCP-1 does not merely have a chemotactic activity, but also a mitogenic effect on cultured rat VSMCs.