Bivalirudin Attenuates Thrombin-Induced Endothelial Hyperpermeability via S1P/S1PR2 Category: Original Articles

Aims: To explore the role of the Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P)/Receptor2 (S1PR2) pathway in thrombin-induced hyperpermeability (TIP) and to test whether bivalirudin can reverse TIP via the S1P-S1PRs pathway. Methods and Results: Using western blot, we demonstrated that Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that were cultured with 2 U/ml thrombin showed significantly increased S1PR2 expression while S1PR1and three kept unchanged. Such increment was attenuated by JTE-013 pretreatment and by presence of bivalirudin. Exposure of 2 U/ml of thrombin brought a higher level of S1P both intracellularly and extracellularly within the HUVECs by using ELISA detecting. Thrombin induced S1P and S1PR2 increment was restored by usage of PF543 and bivalirudin. Bivalirudin alone did not influenced the level of S1P and S1PR1,2, and S1PR3 compare to control group. As a surrogate of cytoskeleton morphology, phalloidin staining and immunofluorescence imaging were used. Blurry cell edges and intercellular vacuoles or spaces were observed along thrombin-exposed HUVECs. Presence of JTE-013 and bivalirudin attenuated such thrombin-induced permeability morphological change and presence of heparin failed to show the protective effect. Transwell chamber assay and probe assay were used to measure and compare endothelial permeability in vitro. An increased TIP was observed in HUVECs cultured with thrombin, and coculture with bivalirudin, but not heparin, alleviated this increase. JTE-013 treatment yielded to similar TIP alleviating effect. In vivo, an Evans blue assay was used to test subcutaneous and organ microvascular permeability after the treatment of saline only, thrombin + saline, thrombin + bivalirudin, thrombin + heparin or thrombin + JTE-013. Increased subcutaneous and organ tissue permeability after thrombin treatment was observed in thrombin + saline and thrombin + heparin groups while treatment of bivalirudin and JTE-013 absent this effect. Conclusion: S1P/S1PR2 mediates TIP by impairing vascular endothelial barrier function. Unlike heparin, bivalirudin effectively blocked TIP by inhibiting the thrombin-induced S1P increment and S1PR2 expression, suggesting the novel endothelial protective effect of bivalirudin under pathological procoagulant circumstance.