title: Homocysteine induces monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression by activating NF-kappaB in THP-1 macrophages.
abstract: Homocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. The recruitment of monocytes is an important event in atherogenesis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potent chemokine that stimulates monocyte migration into the intima of arterial walls. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of homocysteine on MCP-1 expression in macrophages and the underlying mechanism of such effect. Human monocytic cell (THP-1)-derived macrophages were incubated with homocysteine. By nuclease protection assay and ELISA, homocysteine (0.05-0.2 mM) was shown to significantly enhance the expression of MCP-1 mRNA (up to 2.6-fold) and protein (up to 4.8-fold) in these cells. Homocysteine-induced MCP-1 expression resulted in increased monocyte chemotaxis. The increase in MCP-1 expression was associated with activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB due to increased phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein (IkappaB-alpha) as well as reduced expression of IkappaB-alpha mRNA in homocysteine-treated cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that homocysteine, at pathological concentration, stimulates MCP-1 expression in THP-1 macrophages via NF-kappaB activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Siow
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000378:metabolism; D014107:Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D006710:Homocysteine; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D014107:Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone; D004247:DNA; D000111:Acetylcysteine