Redox-regulated mechanisms of IL-4-induced MCP-1 expression in human vascular endothelial cells

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2003 Jan;284(1):H185-92. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00524.2002. Epub 2002 Sep 26.

Abstract

The present study focused on the molecular signaling pathways of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) induction by interleukin-4 (IL-4) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). RT-PCR showed that MCP-1 mRNA accumulation was markedly increased in IL-4-treated HUVEC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Antioxidants, such as pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), significantly inhibited IL-4-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression. These effects correlated well with the PDTC-mediated inhibition of MCP-1 promoter transcriptional activity observed in IL-4-treated HUVEC. IL-4-induced MCP-1 gene expression was paralleled by a concomitant production of MCP-1 protein. In agreement with MCP-1 gene expression, PDTC attenuated IL-4-mediated induction of MCP-1 protein expression. In addition, IL-4 dramatically increased the transcription factor signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) DNA binding activity, an effect that was attenuated by PDTC. The role of STAT1 in the regulation of the IL-4-induced MCP-1 gene expression was further confirmed in HUVEC transfected with a reporter construct of the MCP-1 promoter with a mutated STAT1 binding site. These results demonstrate that IL-4-dependent MCP-1 induction in HUVEC is mediated by redox-regulated STAT1 activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism*
  • DNA / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Proline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Proline / pharmacology
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Thiocarbamates / pharmacology
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / physiology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT1 protein, human
  • Thiocarbamates
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • prolinedithiocarbamate
  • Interleukin-4
  • DNA
  • Proline