ERK2 and Akt are negative regulators of insulin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α stimulated VCAM-1 expression in rat aorta endothelial cells

Background: Diabetes is quickly becoming the most widespread disorder in the Western world. Among the most prevalent effects of diabetes is atherosclerosis, which in turn is driven in part by inflammation. Both insulin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF alpha) increase the presence of Vascular Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of downregulating Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase-2 (ERK2) and Akt on insulin and TNF alpha-stimulated VCAM-1 expression. Methods: Here we begin to define the relationships between ERK2 and Akt regulation of insulin and TNF alpha-stimulated VCAM-1 expression in Rat Arterial Endothelial Cells (RAEC) by transfecting RAEC with ERK2 and Akt RNA interference (RNAi) and then treating these cells with insulin (10 nM) or TNF alpha (10 ng/mL) alone or in combination. Results: Western blot analyses, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were used to determine changes in VCAM-1 expression within the above-stated parameters. Cells transfected with ERK2 or Akt RNAi plasmids increased insulin and TNF alpha-stimulated VCAM-1 total protein expression significantly (P < 0.05) greater than that seen in mock transfected cells and expressed cell surface VCAM-1 greater than that seen in mock transfected cells as indicated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Nevertheless, the decrease of both kinases did not increase insulin or TNF alpha-stimulated VCAM-1 expression above that seen when one or the other RNAi was present. Conclusions: Taken together, our results demonstrate that ERK2 and Akt may be negative regulators of insulin and TNF-alpha stimulated VCAM-1 and that their loss or down regulation might upregulate VCAM-1 expression and contribute to vascular disease.