title: High-density lipoproteins attenuate interleukin-6 production in endothelial cells exposed to pro-inflammatory stimuli.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the ability of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to attenuate endothelial dysfunction, by assessing down-regulation of cytokine-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in cultured endothelial cells, and measuring plasma IL-6 levels in three groups of healthy individuals with low, average, or high plasma HDL-cholesterol. Human plasma HDL caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of TNFalpha-induced IL-6 production in human endothelial cells (by 58.5+/-1.5% at 2 mg of HDL-protein/ml). Reconstituted HDL made with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and phosphatidylcholine were as effective as plasma HDL, while lipid-free apoA-I or phosphatidylcholine liposomes had no effect. HDL attenuated IL-6 mRNA levels, an effect which occurs through inhibition of p38 MAP kinase. The median plasma IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in subjects with low HDL-cholesterol (2.54 pg/ml) compared with those with average or high HDL-cholesterol (1.31 pg/ml and 1.47 pg/ml, respectively). When all subjects were considered together, a lower HDL-cholesterol was the strongest independent predictor of higher IL-6 (F=25.38, P<0.001). By inhibiting IL-6 production and lowering plasma IL-6 concentration, HDL may limit the pro-atherogenic effects of both acute and chronic inflammatory states, of which IL-6 is a key orchestrator.
authors.affiliation: Center E. Grossi Paoletti, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomaraschi
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basilico
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sisto
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taramelli
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eligini
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colli
authors.forename: Cesare R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sirtori
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calabresi
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases