Testosterone and estradiol modulate TNF-alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells.
Cytokine-activated endothelial expression of adhesion molecules plays an important role in immune responses. In the present study, we investigated the influences of testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced expression of adhesion molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were incubated with TNF-alpha, testosterone or 17 beta-estradiol separately, or in a combination of TNF-alpha plus testosterone or 17 beta-estradiol. The expression of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was evaluated at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h following exposure by flow cytometric analysis. The results showed that although testosterone or 17 beta-estradiol did not affect the expression of these adhesion molecules in unstimulated HUVEC, both of them transiently increased the expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVEC. Neither testosterone nor 17 beta-estradiol affected the expression of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha. It is concluded that both testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol increase TNF-alpha-induced expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 in endothelial cells and these facts might indicate a mechanism by which gonadal hormones can indirectly enhance immune responses.
Zhang
X
X
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, P.R. China.
Wang
L
L
Dou
Y
Y
Zhao
J
J
Jiang
T
T
Qiao
Z
Z
Qiao
J
J
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019040:E-Selectin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol