title: Rhein inhibits the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells with or without lipopolysaccharide stimulation.
abstract: Reducing the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ECAMs) is known to decrease inflammation-induced vascular complications. In this study, we explored whether rhein can reduce the inflammation-induced expression of ECAMs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. HUVECs were treated with different concentrations of rhein with or without 2.5 μg/ml LPS stimulation. Cell viability was assayed using the MTT method. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were used to measure the transcription and expression levels of ECAMs, including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-SELECTIN and related signaling proteins. The results indicated that rhein (0-20 μmol/L) and LPS (0-10 μg/ml) had no effect on the viability of HUVECs. LPS could promote the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-SELECTIN. Rhein appeared to target VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-SELECTIN, with the transcription and expression of all three factors being reduced by the rhein treatment (10 and 20 μmol/L). The transcription and expression of VCAM-1 were also reduced by treatment with rhein (10 and 20 μmol/L) in the presence of LPS stimulation. In conclusion, rhein treatment reduced the expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs via a p38-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital and Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong-Zhan
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Ya-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002460:Cell Line; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019040:E-Selectin; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C020491:rhein