Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor expression in U937 foam cells

AIM:To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced by oxidized low density liprotein (ox-LDL) and the inhibitory effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN) on the levels of VEGF protein and mRNA in the U937 foam cells. METHODS: U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL 80 mg/L for 48h, then ,the foam cells were treated with asODN (0,5,10, and 20μmol/L). The VEGF concentration in the media was determined by ELISA. The VEGF protein expression level in cells was measured by immuohistochemistry; the positive ratio detected by a morphometrical analysis system was used as the amount of the VEGF expression level. The VEGF mRNA level was examined by Northern blotting. RESULTS: After U937 cells were incubated with ox-LDL, VEGF expression level increased greatly both in the cells and in the media. asODN markeldy inhibited the increase of VEGF. After treatment with asODN 20μmol/L, the VEGF protein concentration in the media decreased by 45.0%， the VEGF positive ratio detected by immuohistochemistry in cells decreased by 64.9%, and the VEGF mRNA level decreased by 47.1%. CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF in U937 foam cells was strong. asODN inhibited VEGF expression significantly in U937 foam cells in vitro.