Microvascular research
-
Microvascular research · Nov 2012
β-carotene reverses the IL-1β-mediated reduction in paraoxonase-1 expression via induction of the CaMKKII pathway in human endothelial cells.
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) induces endothelial dysfunction and reduces nitric oxide (NO) production. IL-1β also enhances adhesion molecule expression and induces arteriosclerosis. Conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) induces endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity, and maintains vascular health. ⋯ Importantly, β-carotene upregulated the IL-1β-mediated decrease of CaMKKII, PZK1, LKB1, eNOS and PON-1. β-carotene inhibited IL-1β-mediated cell adhesion of U937 to endothelial cells. The effect of β-carotene was reversed by a CaMKK inhibitor, STO-609. These findings indicate that β-carotene regulates the expression of PON-1, eNOS and adhesion molecules via CaMKK pathway activation. β-carotene may contribute to the functional maintenance of vascular endothelial cells in a manner similar to HDL, protecting them against stimuli such as IL-1β.