All-trans retinoic acid modulates the balance of ADAMTS13 and VWF in human microvascular endothelial cells

• ATRA significantly upregulated the expression of ADAMTS13mRNA in HMEC-1.
• ATRA may reverse the inhibition expression of ADAMTS13 by TNF-α.
• ATRA modulates the balance of ADAMTS13 and VWF in human microvascular endothelial cell.

PurposeTo better understand the antithrombotic property of All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), we investigated whether ATRA may affect the balance between ADAMTS13 and von Willebrand factor (VWF) in human microvascular endothelial cell.MethodsCompared to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), we observed the effects of ATRA on the expression of ADAMTS13 and VWF. ADAMTS13mRNA in human microvascular endothelial cell (HMEC-1 cell line) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR). The levels of ADAMTS13 and VWF antigen were detected by western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the proteolytic activity of ADAMTS13 was also determined by using GST-VWF73-His peptide as a specific substrate.ResultsATRA significantly upregulated the expression of ADAMTS13mRNA in HMEC-1, while TNF-α inhibited ADAMTS13mRNA expression. ATRA could reverse the inhibition expression of ADAMTS13 by TNF-α. The results were confirmed from the levels of ADAMTS13 protein and its activity, while ATRA had no significant affection on triggering release of VWF.ConclusionsThis study provides the evidence that ATRA modulates the balance of ADAMTS13 and VWF in human microvascular endothelial cell, which might be a very relevant compartment for the antithrombotic property of ATRA.