title: Bucillamine induces the synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor dose-dependently in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts via nuclear factor-kappaB and simian virus 40 promoter factor 1 pathways.
abstract: The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by activation of the immune system, impaired angiogenesis, and activated dermal fibroblasts. The effects of the immunosuppressive agent bucillamine (SA 96) on fibroblasts and angiogenic factors have not been examined. SA 96, and particularly its metabolite SA 981, increased the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein dose-dependently in dermal fibroblasts from patients with SSc and healthy control subjects without influencing cell viability. SSc fibroblast cultures showed consistently a higher inducibility of VEGF than cultures from healthy control subjects. Preincubation with the SP-1 inhibitor mithramycin as well as blockade of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB signaling with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate treatment and IkappaB transfection reduced significantly the transcription of VEGF, indicating that both transcription factors contribute to the activation of VEGF by SA 981. Specific binding of NF-kappaB protein to its binding site after treatment with SA 981 was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. In contrast, SA 981 did not influence the stability of VEGF mRNA as analyzed with actinomycin D assays. The study provides evidence for a role of NF-kappaB in the transcriptional regulation of the VEGF gene. SA 96 might have positive aspects on the impaired angiogenesis in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jörg H W
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Distler
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirth
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller-Ladner
authors.forename: Hanns M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Rosso
authors.forename: Beat A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Renate E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Ratanavadee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nanagara
authors.forename: Kusuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matucci-Cerinic
authors.forename: Joachim R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kalden
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Distler
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008926:Plicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003545:Cysteine; D008926:Plicamycin; C026535:bucillamine