title: Homocysteine stimulates the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in endothelial cells leading to enhanced monocyte chemotaxis.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. The infiltration of monocytes into the arterial wall is one of the key events during atherogenesis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potent chemokine that stimulates the migration of monocytes into the intima of the arterial wall. The mechanism by which increased monocyte infiltration occurs in atherosclerotic lesions in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia has not been delineated. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of homocysteine on MCP-1 production in endothelial cells. Cells were incubated with homocysteine. The secretion of MCP-1 protein was significantly increased (195% as compared to the control) in cells treated with pathological concentrations of homocysteine. Such effect was accompanied by an increased expression of MCP-1 mRNA (176% as compared to the control) in endothelial cells which resulted in enhanced monocyte chemotaxis. The p38 MAP kinase as well as other members of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, including MKK3, MKK6, ATF-2 and Elk-1, were activated in homocysteine-treated cells. Homocysteine-induced MCP-1 expression and subsequent monocyte chemotaxis were blocked by a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) suggesting that the p38 MAP kinase pathway might be involved in homocysteine-induced MCP-1 expression in endothelial cells. In contrast, staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, had no effect on homocysteine-induced MCP-1 expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that homocysteine stimulates MCP-1 expression in endothelial cells leading to enhanced monocyte chemotaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Slow
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000378:metabolism; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C497105:ATF2 protein, human; D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494112:ELK1 protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1; D006710:Homocysteine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; C482530:MAP2K3 protein, human; C482566:MAP2K6 protein, human; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D019311:Staurosporine; C093642:SB 203580