Serum Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting and Regulation of MMP-9 in a New In Vitro Model of THP-1 Cells Activated by Stenting

Figure 6

Telmisartan suppresses MMP-9 expression by inhibiting Elk-1 phosphorylation in THP-1 cells induced by scratch-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) supernatants. (a) Growth inhibiting effects of telmisartan on THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were treated with 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 µmol/L of telmisartan for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. (b) MMP-9 protein expression in THP-1 cells incubated with scratch-injured HUVECs supernatants for 1, 3, and 6 h. THP-1 cells in telmisartan group were pretreated with telmisartan for 1 h before HUVECs supernatants treatment. (c) Quantitative data for (b). (d) ERK1/2 and Elk-1 phosphorylation and MMP-9 protein expression in control, injury, and telmisartan groups. Control group was THP-1 cultures treated with supernatants of HUVECs without injury, while injury group and telmisartan group were cultures treated with supernatants of HUVECs with scratch injury for 6 hours. Cultures of telmisartan group were pretreated with telmisartan for 1 h prior to HUVECs supernatants treatment. (e) Quantitative data for (d). Note: compared with control group; compared with injury group.

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