The Rho/Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor fasudil in the protection of endothelial cells against advanced glycation end products through the nuclear factor κB pathway

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the Rho/Rho-associated protein kinase (Rho/ROCK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular injury. In this study, we investigated the beneficial effects of fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, on vascular endothelial injury induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with AGEs and AGEs plus fasudil in various concentrations for different time periods. Monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, protein expression and activation of Rho/ROCK, activation of NF-κB and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated. Fasudil suppressed AGE-induced monocyte-endothelial adhesion. Fasudil also reduced the mRNA and protein expression of VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, increases in the protein levels of Rho/ROCK and ROCK activity mediated by AGEs were inhibited by the addition of fasudil. Additionally, fasudil attenuated AGE-induced NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activity and inhibition of NF-κB (IκB) phosphorylation. ROS production induced by AGEs was also reduced by fasudil in HUVECs. The results suggest that ROCK inhibition may protect the vascular endothelium against AGE-induced monocyte-endothelial adhesion in vitro through the reduction of ROS generation and the downregulation of NF-κB signaling. Thus, ROCK inhibition may be a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of vascular complications in diabetes.