Cyclo-oxygenase-2 regulates inducible ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Prostaglandins are well characterised inflammatory mediators, whose formation is regulated by constitutive (COX-1) or inducible (COX-2) isoforms of cyclo-oxygenase. We have previously demonstrated that IL-1 beta causes an induction of COX-2 in human vascular smooth muscle (1). This present study investigates the ability of different cytokines to induce ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on human vascular smooth muscle, and tests whether co-induced COX-2 would regulate their expression. IL-1 beta induced ICAM-1, and COX activity, while it had no affect on VCAM-1. Conversely, IL-4 induced VCAM-1, while it had no effect on PGE2 release or ICAM-1 expression. Inhibition of IL-1 beta induced COX-2 and elevated ICAM-1 expression, an effect reversed by exogenous PGE2. Furthermore, IL-1 beta inhibited IL-4 induced VCAM-1 expression, which was also reversed by COX-2 inhibition. These results demonstrate that COX-2 limits adhesion molecule expression on human vascular smooth muscle cells and suggest that COX-2 can play a protective role in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.