title: Valsartan blocked alcohol-induced, Toll-like receptor 2 signaling-mediated inflammation in human vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol consumption induces inflammatory damage in vessels, and the underlying mechanism is unclear. Valsartan, as one of the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), plays a role in the inhibition of inflammatory reactions in vascular dysfunction. This study is to investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in alcohol-induced inflammatory damage in vascular endothelial cells in vitro and to explore the protective effect of valsartan on alcohol-induced and TLR2-mediated inflammatory damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human umbilical vein cell line (EA.hy926) were exposed to alcohol at 0 to 80 mM for 0 to 48 hours with or without valsartan pretreatment. The expression of TLR2 signaling, including TLR2, tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF-6) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 were detected by Western blot. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were determined by ELISA. To confirm the role of TLR2, we functionally up-regulated or down-regulated TLR2 by using TLR2 agonist or TLR2 small interfering RNA (siRNA), respectively. To further investigate the mechanism of alcohol on renin-angiotensin system, we detected the expression of angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) in protein levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of TLR2, TRAF-6, NF-κB p65, and the proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, were significantly increased after alcohol exposure in EA.hy926 endothelial cells. This was enhanced by TLR2 agonist, and was inhibited by TLR2 siRNA transfection. The pretreatment of valsartan resulted in an inhibition of TLR2 signaling and proinflammatory cytokines. The expression of AGTR1 was up-regulated after alcohol exposure, and was blocked by valsartan pretreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLR2 signaling-mediated alcohol induced inflammatory response in human vascular epithelial cells in vitro, which was inhibited by valsartan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yushu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qingyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiangpen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiangping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Deling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / Q000378:metabolism; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: C544065:AGTR1 protein, human; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6; D013777:Tetrazoles; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine
keywords: Alcohol; EA.hy926 Cells; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Valsartan