Nuclear factor-kappaB induction by visfatin in human vascular endothelial cells: its role in MMP-2/9 production and activation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Fibroblast-Derived 3D Matrix System Applicable to Endothelial Tube Formation Assay
Published on: December 26, 2019
Raghu Adya1, Bee K Tan, Jing Chen
1Endocrinology & Metabolism Group, Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
Objective:
Visfatin is elevated in obesity and type 2 diabetes and is thought to be an inflammatory mediator within atherosclerotic lesions and to induce gelatinase activity. We investigated the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a well-known proinflammatory transcription factor, by visfatin in endothelial cells.
Research Design And Methods:
Human endothelial cells were transfected with pNF-kappaB-Luc plasmid. Using quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis, and gelatin zymography, we studied NF-kappaB signaling in gelatinase-mediated vascular inflammation by visfatin using the NF-kappaB inhibitor BAY 11-7085.
Results:
Visfatin significantly increased NF-kappaB transcriptional activity (P < 0.001). We also found a significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced NF-kappaB activity by visfatin (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the NF-kappaB inhibitor significantly negated visfatin-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 mRNA expression, protein levels, and gelatinolytic activity (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Visfatin-induced NF-kappaB signaling in human endothelial cells affects the activation of gelatinases MMP-2 and -9, suggesting an important role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of vascular inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

