Motorcycle exhaust particles up-regulate expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

► The motorcycle exhaust particle (MEP) induced adhesion between cells of the THP-1 and HUVECs in a time-dependent manner. ► MEPs could induce ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression through oxidative stress and NF-κB activation in HUVECs. ► Carbon black (CB) nanoparticles with different diameters could induce VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expression. ► Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) only increased the expression of ICAM-1 but not that of VCAM-1 in HUVECs.