Unfractionated heparin inhibits the activation of endothelial cells by decreasing the degree of HOXA9 reduced expression

Abstract

To study unfractionated heparin (UFH) effect on the expression of HOXA9 in activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). HUVECs were cultured and they were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5) for the challenge respectively: (1) control group (with an equal volume of phosphate buffer saline); (2) LPS group (LPS 10 mg/L); (3) UFH group (UFH 10 kU/L); (4) UFH+LPS group (10 kU/L UFH 30 minutes + LPS 10 mg/L). After treatment for 3 hours, the expressions of HOXA9, E-selectin and nuclear factor-κB (NK-κB) in endothelial cells were detected by Western Blot. Compared with the control group, the expression of HOXA9 in LPS group was significantly decreased, the expressions of E-selectin and NF-κB were significantly increased (HOXA9/β-actin: 0.082±0.009 vs. 0.199±0.067, E-selectin/β-actin: 0.113±0.055 vs. 0.047±0.030, NF-κB/β-actin: 0.845±0.025 vs. 0.664±0.092, all P < 0.05). Compared with LPS group, the expression of HOXA9 in UFH+LPS group was significantly increased, the expressions of E-selectin and NF-κB were significantly decreased (HOXA9/β-actin: 0.190±0.096 vs. 0.082±0.009, E-selecin/β-actin: 0.057±0.017 vs. 0.113±0.055, NF-κB/β-actin: 0.544±0.060 vs. 0.845±0.025, all P < 0.05). Each protein expression of UFH group were in accordance with the control group. In LPS stimulated endothelial cells, HOXA9 expression is down regulated, E-expression is reduced, and endothelial cell activation is inhibited. UFH can inhibit the activation of endothelial cells by decreasing the degree of HOXA9 reduced expression.