心血管药理学：开放获取

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A Novel ASK Inhibitor AGI-1067 Inhibits TLR-4-Mediated Activation of ASK1 by Preventing Dissociation of Thioredoxin from ASK1

Li Y, Zheng S, Long L, Jenny Zhou H, Ji W and Min W

The cell type that normally limits the inflammatory and atherosclerotic process is the vascular Endothelial Cell (EC) that can be regulated by pro-inflammatory and various stresses. Toll-like Receptor-4 (TLR4) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, in part, by activating Apoptosis Signal-regulating Kinase 1 (ASK1) to initiate the activation of MAP kinases pathways and the expression of inflammatory genes. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that AGI-1067 acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting the activation of ASK1 in human EC. Pretreatment of human aortic endothelial cells with AGI-1067 inhibits TLR4 ligand (LPS)-induced activation of ASK1 and the downstream p38 and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) MAP kinases. LPS dissociate two endogenous inhibitors Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) and 14-3-3 from ASK1, leading to ASK1 autoactivation. Interestingly, AGI-1067 inhibits the dissociation of Trx1, but not 14-3-3, from ASK1. However, inhibition of Trx1 dissociation from ASK1 by AGI-1067 is sufficient to suppress LPS-mediated phosphorylation of the transcription factors c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2, and inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory genes including vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, E-selectin, IL-6 and monocyte chemo attractant protein 1. Our findings suggest that AGI-1067 as a unique ASK1 inhibitor to inhibit TLR4- mediated ASK1 activation, contributing to its anti-inflammatory properties.