Open Access

Artemisinin inhibits monocyte adhesion to HUVECs through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro

  • Authors:
    • Yue Wang
    • Jiatian Cao
    • Yuqi Fan
    • Yushui Xie
    • Zuojun Xu
    • Zhaofang Yin
    • Lin Gao
    • Changqian Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 26, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2016.2579
  • Pages: 1567-1575
  • Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) plays a crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are two important molecules involved in the adhesion of monocytes to HUVECs. Previous studies have suggested that artemisinin, apart from an anti-malarial agent, also has other effects. In the present study, we found that artemisinin significantly decreased the adhesion of monocytes to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the mRNA and protein level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. In addition, the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, Bay 11-7082, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors (SB203580 and U0126) respectively reduced the adhesion of monocytes to TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs, and suppressed ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in TNF-α stimulated HUVECs. Moreover, artemisinin impeded the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, Bay 11-7082 significantly decreased the phosphorylation of levels extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, the findings of our study indicated that artemisinin blocked monocyte adhesion to TNF-α-stimulated to HUVECs by downregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in the TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. Artemisinin may thus have potential for use in the protection against the early development of atherosclerotic lesions.
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June-2016
Volume 37 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang Y, Cao J, Fan Y, Xie Y, Xu Z, Yin Z, Gao L and Wang C: Artemisinin inhibits monocyte adhesion to HUVECs through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro. Int J Mol Med 37: 1567-1575, 2016.
APA
Wang, Y., Cao, J., Fan, Y., Xie, Y., Xu, Z., Yin, Z. ... Wang, C. (2016). Artemisinin inhibits monocyte adhesion to HUVECs through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 37, 1567-1575. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2016.2579
MLA
Wang, Y., Cao, J., Fan, Y., Xie, Y., Xu, Z., Yin, Z., Gao, L., Wang, C."Artemisinin inhibits monocyte adhesion to HUVECs through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 37.6 (2016): 1567-1575.
Chicago
Wang, Y., Cao, J., Fan, Y., Xie, Y., Xu, Z., Yin, Z., Gao, L., Wang, C."Artemisinin inhibits monocyte adhesion to HUVECs through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 37, no. 6 (2016): 1567-1575. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2016.2579