AIM To investigate the effects of ferulic aci d (FA) on the expression of adhesion molecules by activated human umbilical
vein e ndothelial cells (HUVEC) and to elucidate one of the molecular mechanisms of FA 's anti-
atherosclerosis effect. METHODS Cultured HUVEC were tr e ated with ferulic acid (0 41 mmol·L -1 or 0 62 mmol·L -1 ) and stim ulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS 10 mg·L -1 ) 30 min later. Expression of
E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were de- tected b y flow cytometry (FCM) after 4 h and 18 h respectively . Cultured HUVEC were treated with ferulic acid (0 21, 0 41 mmol·L -1 or 0 62 mmol·L -1 respectively) and stimulated with H 2O 2 (300 μmol·L -1 ) 30 min later. After 2 h, expression of P-selectin on HUVEC surface wa s dedected by FCM. RESULTS Ferulic acid inhibited the expression of E-selectin and P-selectin on activated HUVEC. The inhibitive effect of feru lic acid on expression of VCAM-1 was slight. It also suppressed the secrection of vWF on activated HUVEC. CONCLUTION The inhibitive effects of f erulic acid on the expression of adhesion molecules on activated HUVEC may contr ibute to its anti-atherosclerosis effects.