title: Effects of TNF-alpha and curcumin on the expression of thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor in human endothelial cells.
abstract: The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the expression of thrombomodulin (TM) and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) in human endothelial cells as well as the effect of curcumin, a spice and coloring food compound, as a potential therapeutic agent. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with TNF-alpha (2.0 ng/ml) showed reduced TM mRNA levels by 80%, 97%, 94%, and 97% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively (P<0.05), by real-time PCR analysis. Dose-dependent study showed that TM mRNA levels of HUVECs were decreased by 86%, 89%, 91%, and 94% after treatment of TNF-alpha (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 ng/ml) for 6 h, respectively (P<0.05). TM protein levels in HUVECs were significantly reduced by 69% in TNF-alpha-treated cells as compared to controls (P<0.05) by Western blot analysis. Secreted protein and activity of TM of HUVEC cultures were also significantly reduced in TNF-alpha-treated cells. In addition, EPCR mRNA levels of HUVECs were significantly reduced in TNF-alpha-treated group as compared to controls (P<0.05). Furthermore, these effects were observed in other types of endothelial cells from human coronary arteries, lung, and skin. Curcumin effectively blocked these effects of TNF-alpha on downregulation of TM and EPCR. These data demonstrate that TNF-alpha significantly decreases expression of TM and EPCR at both mRNA and protein levels in several human endothelial cells. Curcumin can effectively block TNF-alpha-induced endothelial dysfunction. This study suggests a new molecular mechanism of inflammation-induced thrombosis and a new therapeutic strategy to prevent this clinical problem.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail stop: NAB-2010, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Bicheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lumsden
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Changyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C478370:PROCR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003474:Curcumin