Inflammatory cytokines regulate endothelial cell survival and tissue repair functions via NF-κB signaling

Abstract

Nobuhiro Kanaji1, Tadashi Sato2, Amy Nelson3, Xingqi Wang3, YingJi Li4, Miok Kim5, Masanori Nakanishi6, Hesham Basma3, Joel Michalski3, Maha Farid3, Michael Chandler3, William Pease3, Amol Patil3, Stephen I Rennard3, Xiangde Liu31Division of Hematology, Rheumatology and Respiratory Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 3Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; 4Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; 5Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju Medical College, Jeju, Republic of KoreaAbstract: Inflammation contributes to the development of fibrotic and malignant diseases. We assessed the ability of inflammatory cytokines to modulate endothelial cell survival and functions related to tissue repair/remodeling. Treatment with interleukin (IL)-1ß or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (2 ng/mL) led to human pulmonary artery endothelial cells becoming spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells. However, immunoblot and DNA microarray showed no change in most endothelial and mesenchymal markers. In the presence of IL-1ß or TNF-α, cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by deprivation of serum and growth factor, and were more migratory. In addition, cells treated with IL-1ß or TNF-α contracted collagen gels more robustly. In contrast, transforming growth factor-ß1 did not induce these responses. RNA interference targeting nuclear factor (NF)- κB p65 blocked the effects of IL-1ß or TNF-α on cell morphologic change, survival, migration, and collagen gel contraction. These results suggest that endothelial cells may contribute to tissue repair/remodeling via the NF-κB signaling in a milieu of airway inflammation.Keywords: NF-κB, IL-1ß, TNF-α, apoptosis, tissue repair