Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor expression in U937 foam cells.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced by oxidized low density liporotein (ox-LDL) and the inhibitory effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN) on the levels of VEGF protein and mRNA in the U937 foam cells.


METHODS
U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL 80 mg/L for 48 h, then, the foam cells were treated with asODN (0, 5, 10, and 20 micromol/L). The VEGF concentration in the media was determined by ELISA. The VEGF protein expression level in cells was measured by immuohistochemistry; the positive ratio detected by a morphometrical analysis system was used as the amount of the VEGF expression level. The VEGF mRNA level was examined by Northern blotting.


RESULTS
After U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL, VEGF expression level increased greatly both in the cells and in the media. asODN markedly inhibited the increase of VEGF. After treatment with asODN 20 micromol/L, the VEGF protein concentration in the media decreased by 45.0%, the VEGF positive ratio detected by immuohistochemistry in cells decreased by 64.9%, and the VEGF mRNA level decreased by 47.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of VEGF in U937 foam cells was strong. asODN inhibited VEGF expression significantly in U937 foam cells in vitro.
Yang
Peng-Yuan
PY
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Rui
Yao-Cheng
YC
Jin
You-Xin
YX
Li
Tie-Jun
TJ
Qiu
Yan
Y
Zhang
Li
L
Wang
Jie-Song
JS
D005487:Foam Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D020298:U937 Cells; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein