Inhibition of gamma-irradiation induced adhesion molecules and NO production by alginate in human endothelial cells

Inflammation is a frequent radiation-induced reaction following therapeutic irradiation. Treatment of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) with g amma -irradiation (gamma IR) induces the expression of adhesion proteins su ch as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion mo lecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Since the upregulation of these proteins on endothelial cell surface has been known to be associated with inflammat ion, interfering with the expression of adhesion molecules is an important therapeutic target. in the present study, we demonstrate that high mannuron ic acid-containing alginate (HMA) inhibits gamma IR induced expression of I CAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin on HUVEC in a dose dependent manner. HMA also inhibited gamma IR induced production of Nitric oxide (NO). These data sug gest that HMA has therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflam matory disorder associated with an increase of endothelial leukocyte adhesi on molecules.