Thrombin inhibits HMGB1-mediated proinflammatory signaling responses when endothelial protein C receptor is occupied by its natural ligand

Abstract

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is involved in thepathogenesis of vascular diseases. Unlike activated protein C(APC), the activation of PAR-1 by thrombin is known to elicitproinflammatory responses. To determine whether the occupancyof EPCR by the Gla-domain of APC is responsible for thePAR-1-dependent antiinflammatory activity of the protease, wepretreated HUVECs with the PC zymogen and then activatedPAR-1 with thrombin. It was found that thrombin downregulatesthe HMGB1-mediated induction of both TNF-α andIL-6 and inhibits the activation of both p38 MAPK and NF-κB inHUVECs pretreated with PC. Furthermore, thrombin inhibitedHMGB1-mediated hyperpermeability and leukocyte adhesion/migration by inhibiting the expression of cell adhesion moleculesin HUVECs if EPCR was occupied. Collectively, theseresults suggest the concept that thrombin can initiate proinflammatoryresponses in vascular endothelial cells through theactivation of PAR-1 may not hold true for normal vesselsexpressing EPCR under in vivo conditions. [BMB Reports 2013;46(11): 544-549]

Keywords

• EPCR
• HMGB1
• PAR-1
• Protein C
• Thrombin