Brief Article
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World J Cardiol. Jun 26, 2012; 4(6): 201-205
Published online Jun 26, 2012. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v4.i6.201
Effects of ethanol on the properties of platelets and endothelial cells in model experiments
Ksenija Stach, Anna-Isabelle Kälsch, Christel Weiß, Elif Elmas, Martin Borggrefe, Thorsten Kälsch
Ksenija Stach, Elif Elmas, Martin Borggrefe, Thorsten Kälsch, First Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Anna-Isabelle Kälsch, Fifth Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Christel Weiß, Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Author contributions: Stach K and Kälsch AI contributed equally to the work; all authors contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Thorsten Kälsch, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, First Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. thorsten.kaelsch@umm.de
Telephone: +49-621-3832204 Fax: +49-621-3833821
Received: January 7, 2012
Revised: June 4, 2012
Accepted: June 11, 2012
Published online: June 26, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate effects of ethanol on activity markers of atherosclerosis in an in vitro endothelial cell model.

METHODS: After 24 h incubation with ethanol (0.0095%), human umbilical vein endothelial cells were stimulated for 1 h with lipopolysaccharide, and were then incubated in direct contact with activated platelets. Following this incubation, the expression of CD40L and CD62P on platelets, and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) on endothelial cells were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The increased expression of VCAM-1 and uPAR on endothelial cells by proinflammatory stimulation with activated platelets was significantly reduced through pre-incubation with ethanol (P < 0.05). Furthermore, platelets in direct contact with ethanol and with endothelial cells pre-incubated in ethanol showed a significant reduction in their CD40L expression (P < 0.05). Ethanol had no significant effect on ICAM-1 and MT1-MMP expression on endothelial cells.

CONCLUSION: Ethanol directly attenuates platelet activation and has significant endothelial cell-mediated effects on selected markers of atherosclerosis in vitro. These findings underline possible protective effects of ethanol on atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Platelets; Endothelial cells; Ethanol; Inflammation; Atherosclerosis