Participation of 5-lipoxygenase-derived LTB4 in 4-hydroxynonenal-enhanced MMP-2 production in vascular smooth muscle cells

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) has been suggested as a modulator of atherosclerotic plaque instability, however, its role in MMP production in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is still unclear. Thus, this study investigated the role of 5-LO in HNE-enhanced MMP-2 production in VSMC, and the mechanisms by which this enzyme could be activated by HNE. VSMC stimulated with HNE (1 μM) produced MMP-2, which was markedly attenuated in 5-LO-deficient VSMC as well as in cells pretreated with a FLAP inhibitor, MK886, confirming a role for 5-LO metabolites in HNE-enhanced MMP-2 production. Related to these results, HNE increased nuclear translocation of 5-LO promoting 5-LO activity, which was attenuated not only by SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, but also by PD98059, an ERK inhibitor. In parallel, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK occurred as early as 15 min after exposure to HNE, suggesting a potential role for p38 MAPK and ERK pathways in HNE-induced activation of 5-LO. Among leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists, U-75302, a BLT receptor antagonist, but not MK-571 and Rev-5901, cysLT receptor antagonists, showed an inhibitory effect on HNE-enhanced MMP-2 production. Moreover, MMP-2 production in VSMC was also significantly increased by LTB4, but not by LTC4 and LTD4. Collectively, these data suggest that 5-LO mediates HNE-enhanced MMP-2 production via LTB4-BLT receptor pathways, consequently leading to atherosclerotic plaque instability.