| Autor: |
Sanguinetti C; Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Scalise V; Department of Surgery, Medical, Molecular, and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Neri T; Department of Surgery, Medical, Molecular, and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Celi A; Department of Surgery, Medical, Molecular, and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Susini V; Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Franzini M; Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Pedrinelli R; Department of Surgery, Medical, Molecular, and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.; Istituto Nazionale per le Ricerche Cardiovascolari (INRC), 40126 Bologna, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is involved in the progression of atherosclerosis, since its enzymatic activity promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides, GGT may act as a prothrombotic factor by inducing tissue factor (TF) expression, independently of its enzymatic activity. The aim of this study was to assess whether GGT-induced TF stimulation was a consequence of binding to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expressed on monocytes, the precursors of macrophages and foam cells which colocalize with GGT activity within atherosclerotic plaques. Experiments were performed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), THP-1 cells (a monocytic cellular model), and HEK293 cells, which were genetically modified to study the activation of TLR4. TF procoagulant activity was assessed by a one-stage clotting time test, and TF protein expression was estimated by western blot. Human recombinant (hr) GGT protein increased TF procoagulant activity and protein expression in both PBMCs and THP-1 cells. The GGT-induced TF stimulation was prevented by cellular pretreatment with TLR4/NF-κB inhibitors (LPS-Rs, CLI-095, and BAY-11-7082), and HEK293 cells lacking TLR4 confirmed that TLR4 is essential for GGT-induced activation of NF-κB. In conclusion, hrGGT induced TF expression in monocytes through a cytokine-like mechanism that involved the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling. |
