Monocyte-endothelial cell interaction induces expression of adhesion molecules on human umbilical cord endothelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
The adhesive interaction of monocytes and endothelial cells has been implicated as a regulatory signal in the cell activation that is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effect of monocyte-endothelial cell interaction on the expression of adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).


METHODS
ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein and mRNA expression were determined by cellular ELISA and Northern blot analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
The addition of unstimulated human monocytes, as well as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta: 25 U/ml) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF: 100 U/ml), to HUVECs rapidly induced the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein and mRNA in HUVECs, whereas the addition of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) had no significant effect on their expression. The induction of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by the co-culture of HUVECs and monocytes was significantly, but partially, inhibited by the combination of anti-IL-1 alpha, anti-IL-1 beta and anti-TNF Abs. Actinomycin D and genistein, but not calphostin C, also significantly inhibited the co-culture-induced adhesion molecule expression.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the monocyte-endothelial cell interaction induces the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in endothelial cells partially through the production of IL-1 and TNF. These findings also suggest that the monocyte-endothelial interaction further augments their interaction through the up-regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules, as a positive feedback mechanism.
Takahashi
M
M
Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Ikeda
U
U
Masuyama
J
J
Kitagawa
S
S
Kasahara
T
T
Shimpo
M
M
Kano
S
S
Shimada
K
K
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1