Endothelin Antagonism and Interleukin-6 Inhibition Attenuate the Proatherogenic Effects of C-Reactive Protein

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been suggested to actively participate in the development of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we examined the role of the potent endothelium-derived vasoactive factor endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) as mediators of CRP-induced proatherogenic processes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVECs) were incubated with human recombinant CRP (25 microg/mL, 24 hours) and the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant chemokine-1 was determined. The effects of CRP on LDL uptake were assessed in macrophages using immunofluorescent…