title: The anti-inflammatory actions of LCY-2-CHO, a carbazole analogue, in vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: LCY-2-CHO has anti-inflammatory actions on macrophages. To understand its therapeutic implication in atherosclerosis, we examined its effects on the expressions of anti-inflammatory and inflammatory proteins in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). LCY-2-CHO is able to induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression through a transcriptional action. The HO-1 inducting effect of LCY-2-CHO was inhibited by SB203580, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methylester (l-NAME), and wortmannin, but was not affected by U0126 or SP600125. In accordance LCY-2-CHO increased protein phosphorylation of p38, Akt, and eNOS. Nrf2 is a transcription factor essential for HO-1 gene induction and we showed that LCY-2-CHO is able to cause Nrf2 nuclear translocation and this action depends on p38, Akt and eNOS. In addition to induce anti-inflammatory HO-1, LCY-2-CHO reduced interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced inflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), growth-related oncogene protein-alpha (GRO-alpha), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Inhibitory effect on IL-1beta-mediated NF-kappaB activation was evidenced by the diminishment of IkappaB kinase (IKK) phosphorylation and IkappaBalpha degradation. In contrast, IL-1beta-mediated ERK and JNK activations were not changed by LCY-2-CHO, while p38 activation by IL-1beta and LCY-2-CHO displayed the non-additivity. Taken together, given the overall anti-inflammatory properties of LCY-2-CHO in VSMC, in terms to induce HO-1 gene expression and inhibit inflammatory gene expression, these results highlight the therapeutic potential of LCY-2-CHO in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tao-Yuan General Hospital Department of Health, The Executive Yuan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Feng-Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Hao-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sho-Tone
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: You-Ci
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Jiau
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wan-Wan
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: C499102:9-(2-chlorobenzyl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbaldehyde; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002227:Carbazoles; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C513297:Cxcl1 protein, rat; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C491523:Hmox1 protein, rat