Palmitate up-regulates laminin expression via ROS/integrin αvβ3 pathway in HLSECs

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To investigate the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and integrin αvβ3 in palmitate-induced laminin expression of human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (HLSECs). RESULTS: The protein expression of integrin αv, integrin β3 and laminin are increased by palmitate in HLSECs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. NAC, the ROS inhibitor, significantly inhibited the up-regulation of protein expression of integrin αv, integrin β3 and laminin by palmitate (P < 0.05). Palmitate markedly enhanced ROS formation (P < 0.05), which was not inhibited by LM609, the antibody of integrin αvβ3. Palmitate significantly increased laminin synthesis (P < 0.05), which was attenuated by LM609 and NAC (P < 0.05). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HLSECs were treated with palmitate in the presence or absence of LM609 (10 μg/ml) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (2 mM). Expression of integrin αv, integrin β3 and laminin were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. Immunocytochemistry were used for examining laminin expression. The generation of ROS was measured using the fluorescent signal 2',7' dichloro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that palmitate increases laminin expression through ROS/integrin αv/β3 pathway.