Acute-phase serum amyloid A stimulation of angiogenesis, leukocyte recruitment, and matrix degradation in rheumatoid arthritis through an NF-κB-dependent signal transduction pathway

Objective. To examine the role of the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (A-SAA) in regulating cell adhesion molecule expression, leukocyte recruitment, and angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) expression was examined in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) adhesion to FLS/HMVECs was determined by flow cytometry. Angiogenesis was examined using a Boyden chemotaxis chamber and Matrigel tubule formation. NF-κB/IκBα mediation of the effects of A-SAA was investigated using a specific NF-κB inhibitor and Western blotting. Results. A-SAA significantly enhanced the time-and dose-dependent expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 as effectively as interleukin-1β/tumor necrosis factor a. A-SAA promoted the adhesion of PBMCs to FLS and HMVECs. In addition, A-SAA at 10 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml significantly increased endothelial cell tube formation by 69% and 207%, respectively. At 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml, A-SAA increased HMVEC migration by 188 ± 54% and 296 ± 71%, respectively (mean ± SEM). A-SAA-induced expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and MMP-1 was down-regulated by NF-κB inhibition. Furthermore, A-SAA induced IκBα degradation and NF-κB translocation, suggesting that its proinflammatory effects are mediated in part by NF-κB signaling. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate the ability of A-SAA to induce adhesion molecule expression, angiogenesis, and matrix degradation, mechanisms that are mediated by NF-κB. Targeting A-SAA and its signaling pathways may represent a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of RA.