Inhibitory effect of delphinidin on monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein via ROS/p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

Monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium and their subsequent trans-endothelial migration are pivotal early events in atherogenesis. In this study, the effect of delphinidin, belonging to the group of anthocyanin, on adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells induced by ox-LDL was investigated. The results showed that the pre-treatment with delphinidin (50, 100, or 200 μM) dose-dependently decreased the ox-LDL-induced up-regulation of the expression of ICAM-1 and P-selectin, and the enhanced adhesion and transmigration of monocytes. To determine the role of ROS/p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway, intracellular ROS level, p38MAPK protein expression, NF-κB transcription activity and protein expression, IκB-α degradation, NADPH oxidase subunit (Nox2 and p22phox) protein, and mRNA expression were measured. The results showed that delphinidin attenuated ox-LDL-induced generation of ROS, p38MAPK protein expression, NF-κB transcription activity and protein expression, IκB-α degradation, NADPH oxidase subunit (Nox2 and p22phox) protein and mRNA expression in endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that delphinidin attenuates ox-LDL induced expression of adhesion molecules (P-selectin and ICAM-1) and the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells by inhibiting ROS/p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway. These findings provide a basis for the design of potent antiatherosclerotic agents that will have therapeutic potential in the prevention of AS.