Unfractionated heparin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in human microvascular endothelial cells by blocking Krüppel-like factor 5 and nuclear factor-κB pathway.

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), apart from anticoagulant activities, contain a variety of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory actions possibly affecting sepsis. Chemokines are vital for promoting the movement of circulating leukocytes to the site of infection and are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of UFH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chemokine production in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). HPMECs were pretreated with UFH (0.1 U/ml and 1 U/ml), 15 min prior to stimulation with LPS (10 μg/ml). Cells were cultured under various experimental conditions for 2 h and 6 h for analysis. UFH markedly decreased LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein expression in HPMECs. UFH also attenuated the secretion of these chemokines in culture supernatants. In addition, UFH blocked the chemotactic activities of LPS-stimulated HPMECs supernatants on monocytes migration as expected. UFH inhibited LPS-induced Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF-5) mRNA and protein levels. Concurrently, UFH reduced nuclear factor (NF)-κB nuclear translocation. Importantly, transfection with siRNA targeting KLF-5 reduced NF-κB activation and chemokines expression. These results demonstrate that interfering with KLF-5 mediated NF-κB activation might contribute to the inhibitory effects of chemokines and monocytes migration by UFH in LPS-stimulated HPMECs.