IL-38 overexpression inhibits ox-LDL-induced endothelial inflammation

YANG Yanhua; LI Ming; HE Junhong; FENG Jun

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20170074

Abstract：This study aimed to investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-38 in the serum ot patients with atherosclerosis and further explore the role and molecular mechanism of IL-38 in ox-LDL induced endothelial inflammation.The blood samples of 65 intracranial and extracranial carotid atherosclerosis patients and 30 healthy control were collected and IL-38 level was determined by ELISA.Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were transfected with pcDNA3.1-IL-38 plasmid to overexpress IL-38 and followed by stimulation with 100 μg/ml ox-LDL.The levels of inflammatory mediators (IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,ICAM-1,and MCP-1) in cell supernatants were measured by ELISA;the mRNA expression of lectin-like ox-LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) and CD36 were detected by real-time PCR;the protein levels of LOX-1,CD36,p-NF-κB p65 (p-p65),and IκB were examined by Western blotting.Additionally,the expression of LOX-1,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,ICAM-1,and MCP-1 were assayed after HAECs were pretreated with 100 μmol/L PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor) and stimulated with 100 μg/ml ox-LDL.Data demonstrated that compared with healthy control,IL-38 level was significantly increased in the serum of cerebral atherosclerosis patients,and positively correlated with the atherosclerosis degree (P＜O.05).Overexpression of IL-38 decreased ox-LDL-induced expression of inflammatory mediators,the mRNA and protein expression of LOX-1,and p-p65 level,but enhanced IκB expression (P＜0.05),however,it did not alter the mRNA and protein expression of CD36.PDTC could attenuate the effects of IL-38 on the expression of LOX-1,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,ICAM-1,and MCP-1.In conclusion,the expression level of IL-38 is involved in atherosclerosis degree.IL-38 could inhibit ox-LDL-induced endothelial inflammation,and the mechanism is related with the suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway.