Maprotiline inhibits LPS-induced expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in human endothelial cells

Regardless of the known anti-inflammatory potential of heterocyclic antidepressants, the mechanisms concerning their modulating effects are not completely known. In our earlier work, maprotiline, a heterocyclic antidepressants, considerably inhibited infiltration of polymorphonuclear cell leucocytes into the inflamed paw. To understand the mechanism involved, we evaluated the effect of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression in stimulated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence and absence of maprotiline (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Maprotiline significantly decreased the LPS-induced expression of VCAM-1 at all applied concentrations. The expression of ICAM-1 decreased in the presence of maprotiline at 10(-6) M concentration (P < 0.05). Since maprotiline inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in LPS-stimulated human endothelial cells, it can be a possible way through which maprotiline exerts its anti-inflammatory properties.