AIM To investigate the effects of tetracycline on the expression of adhesive molecules E selectin and intercellular adhesion
molecule 1 (ICAM 1) on
human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) or
lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS HUVECs were activated by TNF α (0 5～50 μg·L 1 ) or LPS (0 5～50 mg·L -1 ). Tetracycline (10 -6 ～10 -4 mol·L -1 ) was used to incubate HUVECs for 1 h before stimulation with TNF α ( 1 μg·L -1 ) or LPS ( 5 mg·L -1 ) and co incubate HUVECs with TNF α or LPS for 4 h or 18 h. The expression of adhesive molecules on HUVECs was measured by a cellular enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (Cell ELISA) method. RESULTS After stimulation of HUVECs with TNF α or LPS for 4 h induced E selectin expression, and exposure HUVECs to TNF α or LPS for 18 h increased constitutive expression of ICAM 1 compared with control group ( P< 0 01). Pretreatment of HUVECs with tetracycline inhibited the expression of E selectin and ICAM 1 on HUVECs induced by TNF α or LPS in a dose dependent manner ( P< 0 01). CONCLUSION Tetracycline inhibits the expression of E selectin and ICAM 1 on HUVECs stimulated by TNF α or LPS, which may contribute to the anti inflammatory potential of tetracyclines.