ESTRADIOL-17-BETA REGULATES THE INDUCTION OF VCAM-1 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION BY INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA IN HUMAN UMBILICAL VEIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

We examined the effect of estradiol-17B on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (VCAM-1), an adhesion molecule, in human umb ilical vascular endothelial cells. After preincubation with estradiol- 17B for 24 hours, cells were treated for 4 h with 0.5 mu g/ml recombin ant human interleukin-1B. The RNase protection assay was performed usi ng an [alpha-P-32]-labeled 121 base pair VCAM-1 cRNA probe. Preincubat ion with estradiol-17B (250 or 500 pg/ml) suppressed the induction of VCAM-1 mRNA expression by interleukin-1B. VCAM-1 staining with a monoc lonal antibody decreased when cells were treated with interleukin-1B a t 0.5 mu g/ml. In conclusion, estradiol-17B regulates the induction of VCAM-1 gene expression by interleukin-1B in human umbilical vein endo thelial cells.