Palmitate induces interleukin-8 expression in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells via Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway (TLR4/NF-κB-8).

Abstract

Recent evidence demonstrates that saturated free fatty acids (FFAs) induce the inflammatory response via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a proinflammatory cytokine that induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in vitro. However, the regulation of IL-8 expression by palmitate in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of IL-8 expression by free fatty acids and determine the underlying mechanisms in HVSMCs.