However for VCAM-1 gene and protein expression, we observed that the gene is activated at 3 h, but no protein was detected at this time, indicating a delay between the Sotrastaurin time of gene expression and protein production, but at 6 and 24 h can be observed both gene and protein increased expression. PECAM-1 is constitutively
expressed on endothelial cells, where it is a major component of the endothelial cell intercellular junction in confluent vascular beds. During the inflammatory response, PECAM is involved in a step in which leukocytes squeeze in amoeboid fashion between the tightly apposed endothelial cells that line the blood vessels at the site of inflammation (diapedesis) (Muller et al., 1989; Newman, 1997). Our results of fluorescent cell sorting confirm the expression of PECAM-1 in HUVECs at all time intervals analyzed, independently of the treatment. The decrease in the percentage of jararhagin treated cells that expressed PECAM-1 BKM120 mw molecule at 24 h may
be explained by the detachment or death of cells induced by jararhagin at this time of treatment. In this study, we showed also that jararhagin induces the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase MMP-10 gene. Usually MMPs induce or suppress inflammatory response through the regulation of cytokines (Manicone and McGuire, 2008; Saren et al., 1996). MMPs are involved in maintaining vascular homeostasis, by degrading most extracellular matrix components, which are barriers to normal migration and formation of new vessels (Visse and Nagase, 2003). Published data demonstrate that SVMP also regulated positively the expression of various pro-inflammatory genes such as metalloproteinases (MMP-10,
MMP-1, MMP-3, tissue factor and urokinase type plasminogen activators) and expression of tissue inhibitors of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-3) in fibroblasts, suggesting that SVMP could induce a remodeling of extracellular matrix by activating these components (Gallagher et al., 2003; Lopes et al., Progesterone 2009). Interestingly, the gene coding for angiopoietin-2 was highly expressed by jararhagin-treated HUVEC. Pro-inflammatory stimuli strongly activate transcription of Ang-2 by endothelial cells (Kim et al., 2000; Mandriota and Pepper, 1998). Ang-2 protein is stored in endothelial-cell Weibel–Palade bodies (WPB) and, thus, is readily available following endothelial stimulation with WPB secretagogues such as phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), thrombin and histamine (Fiedler et al., 2004, 2006). The release of Ang-2 results in rapid destabilization of the endothelium, suggesting that Ang-2 functions as an autocrine negative regulator of the quiescent resting endothelium (Pfaff et al., 2006; Scharpfenecker et al., 2005). Moreover, Ang-2 triggers an inflammatory response by activating the endothelium and inducing its permeability (Lemieux et al., 2005; Roviezzo et al., 2005).