1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α induced activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells via NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1α, 25-(OH)2D3] on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The mechanism involved in this process was also studied. Methods HUVECs were cultured and treated with TNF-α (40 ng/ml), 1α, 25-(OH)2D3(10-8 mol/L), and SN50 as indicated. Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and E-selectin were used as markers of endothelial activation, which were detected by Western blotting and realtime PCR (RT-PCR). NF-κB signaling pathway was investigated to study the mechanism. Western blotting, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) method were used to evaluate the effects of 1α, 25-(OH)2D3 on its early activation, nuclear transport, and binding to VCAM and E-selectin promoters. Results (1)Western blotting and RT-PCR showed that TNF-α could significantly up-regulate the expression of VCAM and E-selectin in HUVECs, which can be inhibited by specific NF-κB blocker SN50. 1α, 25-(OH)2D3 down-regulated the expression of VCAM and E-selectin induced by TNF-α. (2) Western blotting showed that TNF-α induces I-κBα phosphorylation, thereby activating NF-κB p65 subunit. Immunofluorescence showed that 1α, 25-(OH)2D3 significantly inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit. ChIP analysis revealed that 1α, 25-(OH)2D3 inhibited the binding of NF-κB p65 to VCAM and E-selectin promoters and thus affected gene expression. Conclusions TNF-α enhanced the expression of E-selectin and VCAM in HUVECs via NF-κB signaling pathway. 1α, 25-(OH)2D3 may inhibit NF-κB early activation, nuclear transport and the binding of NF-κB p65 to VCAM and E-selectin promoters, thereby inhibiting TNF-α-induced endothelial cell activation. Key words: 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; Endothelial activation; NF-κB signaling pathway; Adhesion molecule