Functional characterization of S100A8 and S100A9 in altering monolayer permeability of human umbilical endothelial cells

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 3;9(3):e90472. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090472. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

S100A8, S100A9 and S100A8/A9 complexes have been known as important endogenous damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) proteins. But the pathophysiological roles of S100A8, S100A9 and S100A8/A9 in cardiovascular diseases are incompletely explained. In this present study, the effects of homo S100A8, S100A9 and their hetero-complex S100A8/A9 on endothelial barrier function were tested respectively in cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs). The involvement of TLR4 and RAGE were observed by using inhibitor of TLR4 and blocking antibody of RAGE. The clarification of different MAPK subtypes in S100A8/A9-induced endothelial response was implemented by using specific inhibitors. The calcium-dependency was detected in the absence of Ca2+ or in the presence of gradient-dose Ca2+. The results showed that S100A8, S100A9 and S100A8/A9 could induce F-actin and ZO-1 disorganization in HUVECs and evoked the increases of HUVEC monolayer permeability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effects of S100A8, S100A9 and S100A8/A9 on endothelial barrier function depended on the activation of p38 and ERK1/2 signal pathways through receptors TLR4 and RAGE. Most importantly, we revealed the preference of S100A8 on TLR4 and S100A9 on RAGE in HUVECs. The results also showed the calcium dependency in S100A8- and S100A9-evoked endothelial response, indicating that calcium dependency on formation of S100A8 or A9 dimmers might be the prerequisite for this endothelial functional alteration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calgranulin A / metabolism*
  • Calgranulin B / metabolism*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Electric Impedance
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Calgranulin A
  • Calgranulin B
  • DNA Primers
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
  • TJP1 protein, human
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Key Basic Research (973) Program of China (No. 2011CB510200 to Y.J.), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81030055; No. 30971201, No. 81170297), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (PCSIRT) (No. IRT0731 to Y.J.) and NSFC-Guangdong Joint Fund (No. U0632004 to Y.J.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.