[Inhibitory effects of ligustrazine on the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by preeclamptic plasma].

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether plasma from preeclamptic women induces expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on cultured endothelial cells, and the effects of ligustrazine (LTZ) on the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1.

METHODS

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated by collagenase mixed with trypsin. LTZ was added to HUVEC monolayers grown to confluency on 96-well microplates for 30 minutes. Then HUVEC were incubated with medium containing 20% plasma (volume/volume) either from women with preeclampsia or normotensive pregnancy or nonpregnant women. ICAM-1, VCAM-1 expression was determined after 16 hours of exposure by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique performed on the cell monolayer.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant increase in ICAM-1, VCAM-1 expression in the endothelial cells exposed to preeclamptic and nonpregnant plasma compared with those exposed to normotensive plasma. Pretreatment with LTZ could reduce the expression of ICAM-1 exposed to preeclamptic plasma, and reduce the expression of VCAM-1 exposed to any of the three sources of plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

Preeclamptic plasma induces ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in HUVEC in vitro. Ligustrazine may inhibit the upregulation effects of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression induced by preeclamptic plasma.