[Visfatin promotes production of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and interleukin-6 in human endothelial cells via insulin receptor].

OBJECTIVE

Visfatin is a new novel proinflammatory adipocytokine affecting insulin resistance by binding to insulin receptor. To investigate whether visfatin stimulates monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mediates insulin receptor (IR) is involved in are not known.

METHODS

Cultured HUVEC was treated with different doses and durations of visfatin. Furthermore, HUVEC was pretreated with hydroxy-2-naphthalenylmethylphosphonic acid trisacetoxymethyl ester (HNMPA-(AM)3), a specific inhibitor of IR followed by visfatin (100 ng/ml) treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure MCP-1 and IL-6 production in HUVEC. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for determining MCP-1 and IL-6 mRNA expression.

RESULTS

Visfatin significantly dose- and time- dependently up-regulated protein production of MCP-1 and IL-6 in HUVEC. We therefore found visfatin- induced MCP-1 and IL-6 production and gene expression in HUVEC were inhibited by HNMPA-(AM)3.

CONCLUSION

Visfatin induces endothelial MCP-1 and IL-6 production in HUVEC in a dose and time-dependently manner. This action appears to be mediated via insulin receptor pathway.