title: Inhibitory effect of ghrelin on nicotine-induced VCAM-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a major cause of vascular injury in smokers. Ghrelin is a recently discovered peptide that plays a modulatory role in atherosclerosis. However, it is unknown how ghrelin regulates nicotine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression. We examined nicotine-induced VCAM-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells pretreated with ghrelin and detected the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. Our study showed that ghrelin inhibited nicotine-induced VCAM-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent way. We also found that ghrelin inhibited nicotine-induced PKC, p38 MAPK, and NF-kappaB activation. The results suggest that ghrelin inhibits nicotine-induced VCAM-1 expression, and PKC, p38 MAPK, and NF-kappaB play active roles in that process. Exogenous ghrelin may provide a possible approach for preventing or reversing atherosclerosis in smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Cui-Zhu
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Hai-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D009538:Nicotine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases