Rivaroxaban protects from the oxysterol-induced damage and inflammatory activation of the vascular endothelium

ABSTRACT

Background

Rivaroxaban is one of the direct factor Xa inhibitors. Its function in the inactivated coagulation cascade is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of rivaroxaban on the endothelial integrity and inflammatory properties of endothelial cells stimulated by 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC).

Methods

HUVECs were stimulated with 25-OHC, rivaroxaban and 25-OHC+ rivaroxaban. HUVEC integrity and permeability were measured using the xCELLigence system and paracellular flux assay. The mRNA expression of tissue factor, ICAM-1, VEGF, IL-33, MCP-1, TNF-α was analyzed in the real-time PCR. Apoptosis and viability were measured by flow cytometry. The VEGF protein concentration was assessed by ELISA. The confocal microscope was used to evaluate the expression of VE-cadherin in endothelial cells.

Results

25-OHC decreased endothelial cell integrity and increased the mRNA expression of IL-33, tissue factor, ICAM-1, MCP-1, VEGF, TNF-α as compared to unstimulated controls. Following the stimulation with rivaroxaban, HUVEC restored integrity disrupted by 25-OHC (p < .01). In HUVECs pre-stimulated with oxysterol, rivaroxaban decreased mRNA expression of IL-33, TNF-α, chemokines MCP-1, ICAM-1, VEGF and tissue factor (p < .01). Rivaroxaban 100 mg/ml+25-OHC increased the VE-cadherin expression in endothelium as compared to 25-OHC (p < .05).

Conclusion

Our finding suggests that rivaroxaban may restore the endothelial barrier and inhibit the inflammatory activation caused by oxysterol in vitro.

Graphical abstract The effect of stimulation: 25-hydroksycholesterol (10µg/ml)+ rivaroxaban (100, 500ng/ml) on the barrier function and immune profile of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs)

KEYWORDS:

• Rivaroxaban
• vascular endothelial damage
• 25-hydroxycholesterol
• inflammatory markers
• barrier function

Disclosure statement

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland within “MINIATURA 2” DEC-2018/02/X/NZ5/03684.