An oxidized derivative of cholesterol increases the release of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 from human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture

Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with 7-ketocholesterol resulted in an increased release of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) into culture medium. 7-Ketocholesterol did not enhance the expression of mRNA for VCAM-1. 7β-Hydroxy- or 25-hydroxycholesterol had no effect on soluble VCAM-1 levels. Western blot analysis revealed that soluble VCAM-1, in the conditioned medium of both 7-ketocholesterol-stimulated and control cells, had a molecular size of 100 kDa. Stimulation of the TNF-α-treated HUVECs with 7-ketocholesterol further increased the levels of soluble VCAM-1 in the culture medium. Again, 7-ketocholesterol did not affect the VCAM-1 mRNA level, which was enhanced by TNF-α. Pretreatment of the cells with tissue inhibitor of membrane metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) completely inhibited the release of VCAM-1 in response to 7-ketocholesterol but TIMP-1 had no effect. Adherence of mononuclear cells to TNF-stimulated HUVEC monolayers was slightly inhibited by 7-ketocholesterol, but this oxysterol did not affect the basal adherence to non-stimulated HUVECs. Immunofluorescent staining of the cells confirmed diffuse perinuclear distribution of VCAM-1 in HUVECs treated with TNF-α, but 7-ketocholesterol did not affect the intensity or distribution of immunofluorescence. We conclude that 7-ketocholesterol releases VCAM-1 from the endothelium probably by a proteolytic process.