Modulators of oxidized LDL-induced hyperadhesiveness in human endothelial cells

The adherence of monocytes to the endothelium is an early event in atherogenesis. Our previous studies have demonstrated that oxidized LDL induced U937 cells-endothelial interactions and that HDL prevented oxidized LDL effects. Here, we provide evidence that treatment of endothelial cells with the anti-inflammatory agent indomethacin abolished oxidized LDL as well as interleukin 1- and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated U937 adhesion. It is noteworthy that HDL, which is known to be protective against atherosclerosis, was effective only in negating U937 adhesion induced by oxidized LDL, while it did not affect interleukin 1- and lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperadhesiveness in endothelial cells. Since indomethacin inhibits cyclooxygenase which is the key enzyme in the synthesis of prostanoids, we have studied the effect of oxidized LDL on the expression of cyclooxygenase type 2 and demonstrated that oxidized LDL induces a sustained increase in the expression of cyclooxygenase mRNA.