Adiponectin Inhibits Endothelial Synthesis of Interleukin-8

Abstract

Adiponectin is an antiatherogenic adipokine that inhibits inflammation by mechanisms that are not completely understood. We explored the effect of adiponectin on endothelial synthesis of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine that plays a role in atherogenesis. Adiponectin decreased the secretion of IL-8 from human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Adiponectin also inhibited IL-8 mRNA expression induced by TNF-α. Phosphorylation of IκB-α was decreased by adiponectin, but phosphorylation of ERK, SAPK/JNK, and p38MAPK were unaffected. Adiponectin increased intra-cellular cAMP levels in HAEC in a dose-dependent manner; PKA activity was also increased. The inhibitory effect of adiponectin on TNF-α–induced IL-8 synthesis was inhibited by pretreatment with Rp-cAMP, a PKA inhibitor. These observations suggest that adiponectin inhibits IL-8 synthesis through inhibition of a PKA dependent NF-κB signaling pathway. We also showed that adiponectin enhances Akt phosphorylation. The inhibitory effect of adiponectin on TNF-α–induced IL-8 synthesis was abrogated in part by pretreatment with the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 or by Akt siRNA transfection, suggesting that Akt activation might inhibit IL-8 synthesis induced by TNF-α. We conclude that inhibition of NF-κB and activation of Akt phosphorylation may mediate adiponectin inhibition of atherosclerosis.