目的:研究同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)诱导人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)组织因子(TF)表达的作用,及其对核转录因子(NF-κB)活性和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)表达的影响。方法:培养人脐动脉VSMCs,将不同浓度的Hcy和/或NF-κB抑制剂PDTC与VSMCs孵育不同时间,用RT-PCR方法检测TF mRNA表达,用Western blotting检测核NF-κB水平,用流式细胞术(FCM)检测细胞表面TF蛋白水平和iNOS水平。结果:10μmol/L Hcy作用4h,TF表达开始升高,500μmol/L达峰值,Hcy能显著诱导VSMCs表达TF mRNA;对照组VSMCs细胞膜表面有低水平的TF蛋白表达,10μmol/L Hcy作用4h即可诱导VSMCs表达TF蛋白,500μmol/L达高峰,Hcy能显著诱导VSMCs表达TF;500μmol/L Hcy作用1h,细胞核NF-κB水平明显升高,Hcy可诱导VSMCs NF-κB活化;NF-κB抑制剂PDTC可明显抑制Hcy对TF mRNA和细胞TF表达的诱导作用;单独Hcy作用不能诱导VSMCs表达iNOS。结论:Hcy能显著诱导VSMCs表达TF,增强VSMCs的NF-κB活化,从而介导TF基因表达和蛋白合成,通过NF-κB介导VSMCs表达TF可能是Hcy导致AS、血栓形成的重要机制。
AIM: To investigate the expression of tissue factor (TF) induced by homocysteine (Hcy) and the effect of Hcy on activation of nuclear factor -κB (NF-κB) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS : Human umbilical artery VSMCs were cultured by tissue explanting method, and were incubated with different dosage of Hcy/PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor) in different time. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of TF mRNA, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of TF on the surface of VSMCs. Western blotting was performed to measure the NF-κB protein level in the nuclear, flow cytometry was used to examine the expression of iNOS and the expression of TF on the surface of VSMCs. RESULTS: Hcy induced VSMCs TF mRNA expression significantly after the VSMCs were incubated with Hcy at concentrations of 10, 100,500μmol/L, respectively. There was low expression level of TF protein on the surface of the control VSMCs and Hcy also induced VSMCs TF protein expressionn on the cell surface at different concentrations. Additionally, Hcy rapidly induced the activation of NF-κB and inhibited this effect significantly by PDTC. Hcy alone did not induce the expression of iNOS in VSMCs. CONCLUSION : Hcy induces human VSMCs expression of TF in mRNA and protein. These effects were partly mediated by NF-κB. These results suggest that Hcy may play an important role in atherosclerosis and thrombosis.