title: Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in human endothelial cells.
abstract: We investigated whether ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) could block tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced over-expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs-L). Cells were treated with various concentrations of TNF-alpha with or without Rb1 pre-treatment for 16 h. The mRNA and protein levels of VCAM-1 were determined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry, respectively. Human monocytic THP-1 cells labeled with fluorescent dye (Calcein-AM) was used for the adhesion assay on HUVEC monolayers. Dihydroethidium (DHE) was used to demonstrate in situ levels of superoxide production. JC-1 dye was used to measure changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was determined by Bio-Plex immunoassay. TNF-alpha treatment significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of VCAM-1 in HUVECs in a dose dependent manner. Rb1 pre-treatment effectively blocked the TNF-alpha-induced expression of VCAM-1 mRNA or protein by 80% and 43%, respectively (p<0.01). THP-1 adhesion was also blocked. Furthermore, Rb1 reduced the TNF-alpha-induced increase of superoxide anion production by 41% and inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential by 44% in HUVECs. Rb1 also effectively blocked TNF-alpha-induced activation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and IkappaBalpha. In conclusion, Rb1 effectively blocked the TNF-alpha-induced over-expression of VCAM-1, increased THP-1 adhesion and over-production of superoxide anion. Furthermore, Rb1 inhibited TNF-alpha-induced MAPKs and NF-kappaB activation. These data suggested that Rb1 might have potential therapeutic effects in controlling inflammation in vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Qiuyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D013481:Superoxides; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases