Abstract:Aim To examine the effects of Ciglitazone on the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule(ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM)-1 which were upregulated by AngⅡ. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(hUVEC) at passage 35 were pre-incubated for 24 h with Ciglitazone(0.1 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,10 μmol/L,and 100 μmol/L) before stimulated by 10-7 mmol/L AngⅡ for 12 h.Total RNA was extracted,and the expression of mRNA and protein of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was assessed by RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively. Results Ciglitazone at 0.1 μmol/L~100 μmol/L significantly attenuated the AngⅡ-induced expression of VCAM-1(0.1 μmmol/L p<0.01,the others p<0.001) both in mRNA and protein level.Ciglitazone(0.1 μmol/L,1 μmol/L) have no effects on the expression of ICAM-1(p<0.05),but inhibited the Ang Ⅱ-induced expression of ICAM-1 at 10 μmol/L or 100 μmol/L(p<0.01,p<0.001). Conclusions Pretreatment of Ciglitazone could inhibit AngⅡ-induced the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1.These findings suggest that PPARγ agonist,currently used in treatment of type Ⅱ diabetes,may have beneficial effects in modulating inflammatory response in atherosclerosis.