MCP-induced protein 1 suppresses TNFalpha-induced VCAM-1 expression in human endothelial cells.

Endothelial inflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, albeit the mechanisms need to be fully elucidated. We here report that treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha substantially increased the expression of MCP-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1). Overexpression of MCPIP1 protected ECs against TNFalpha-induced endothelial activation, as characterized by the attenuation in the expression of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 and monocyte adherence to ECs. Conversely, small interfering RNA-mediated knock down of MCPIP1 increased the expression of VCAM-1 and monocytic adherence to ECs. These studies identified MCPIP1 as a feedback control of cytokines-induced endothelial inflammation.