TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion in human RPE cells is mediated in part through autocrine VEGF stimulation

摘要

PurposeLocal inflammation at the RPE cell layer is associated with inflammatory cell migration and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. TNF-α upregulates intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression on the RPE, which allows lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) to bind on leukocytes that contribute to leukocyte adhesion at sites of inflammation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A165b is generated by alternative splicing of VEGF-A in the terminal exon, exon 8. VEGF-A165b is cytoprotective and antiangiogenic, but its effects on inflammation have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that VEGF-A165b regulates TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion in RPE cells.