Effect of valsartan on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated by ox-LDL / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of valsartan on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by ox-LDL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HUVECs were cultured in endothelial basal medium and divided into four groups (n = 5 each) group I, control group without any treatment; group II HUVECs stimulated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) in endothelial basal medium for 24 hours; group III HUVECs treated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) and valsartan (10 µmol/L) in endothelial basal medium for 24 hours; group IV HUVECs treated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) and valsartan (30 µmol/L) in endothelial basal medium for 24 hours. Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of and COX-2 mRNA was significantly higher in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs than in control group (1.478 ± 0.104 vs. 0.366 ± 0.104, P < 0.05), while expression of COX-1 mRNA was similar between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Valsartan dose-dependently decreased the COX-2 mRNA expression (group III vs. group II 1.074 ± 0.112 vs. 1.478 ± 0.104, P < 0.05; group IV vs. group II 0.664 ± 0.104 vs. 1.478 ± 0.104, P < 0.05). Expression of COX-1 mRNA in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs was not affected by valsartan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>COX-2 mRNA expression in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs could be reduced by valsartan suggesting valsartan might attenuate atherosclerosis by reducing ox-LDL-induced inflammatory responses.</p>