{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T15:13:31Z","timestamp":1786634011758,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774569600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100005970","name":"Deutsche Stiftung f\u00fcr Herzforschung","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["F\/03\/22"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["F\/03\/22"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100005970","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["F\/03\/22"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["F\/03\/22"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02yjb3a91","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Deutschen Zentrum f\u00fcr Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung","award":["81Z0100205"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["81Z0100205"]}]},{"award":["81Z0100205"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["81Z0100205"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/031t5w623","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Atherosclerosis, the leading global cause of death, is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease with higher prevalence and earlier onset in men than in women. This study aims to investigate sex differences in the atherogenic endothelial phenotype during early atherosclerosis processes by providing the first comprehensive analysis of hormone-independent responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from opposite-sex twins. HUVECs underwent pro-inflammatory stimulation with TNF-\u03b1 and supernatant from activated pro-inflammatory THP-1 cells, revealing distinct sex-specific patterns: mRNA expression of focal adhesion proteins talin-I, vinculin, FAK, and \u03b11-actinin increased significantly only in male cells, while paxillin showed elevated mRNA and protein levels in both sexes. Male HUVECs exhibited stronger induction of cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1, pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1\u03b2, and proangiogenic factors Flt-3L, G-CSF, and PDGF-AA, whereas IL-22 secretion was exclusively upregulated in female cells. These sex differences in levels of focal adhesion, adhesion molecules, and cytokine profiles uncover the mechanistic backgrounds of the atherogenic endothelial phenotype, independent of systemic hormones. The findings emphasize cellular sex as a critical biological variable in early atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27073079","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T08:22:36Z","timestamp":1774858956000},"page":"3079","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Pro-Inflammatory Activation Promotes Atherogenic Endothelial Phenotype in Male and Female Human Umbilical Endothelial Vein Cells (HUVECs)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5267-4101","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mario","family":"Lorenz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charit\u00e9, Klinik f\u00fcr Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin, CCM, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Riwka","family":"Palant","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charit\u00e9, Klinik f\u00fcr Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin, CCM, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Urology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Edith","family":"Oscherowa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Weam","family":"Karmid-Haj Hamoud","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5423-1651","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer A.","family":"Kirwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Berlin Institute of Health at Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, BIH Metabolomics, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Max Delbr\u00fcck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-R\u00f6ssle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Trajkovski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Berlin Institute of Health at Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, BIH Metabolomics, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Max Delbr\u00fcck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-R\u00f6ssle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7416-9859","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janine","family":"Wiebach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Berlin Institute of Health at Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, BIH Metabolomics, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Max Delbr\u00fcck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-R\u00f6ssle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raphaela","family":"Fritsche-Guenther","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Berlin Institute of Health at Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, BIH Metabolomics, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Max Delbr\u00fcck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-R\u00f6ssle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haiyan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Urology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Respiratory, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou 310058, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natalie","family":"Haritonow","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angelika","family":"Vietzke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charit\u00e9, Klinik f\u00fcr Kardiologie, Angiologie und Intensivmedizin, CCM, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8966-5070","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Kaschina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (MRC), 10115 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wolfgang","family":"Henrich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics, Charit\u00e9\u2013Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Charit\u00e9platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-9491-1205","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julia","family":"Temp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1391-9262","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Luisa","family":"Barcena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Urology, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risks 2023 Collaborators (2025). Global, Regional, and National Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990\u20132023. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., 86, 2167\u20132243."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.5334\/gh.1288","article-title":"The Heart of the World","volume":"19","author":"Perel","year":"2024","journal-title":"Glob. Heart"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"g5992","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.g5992","article-title":"Sex differences in lifetime risk and first manifestation of cardiovascular disease: Prospective population based cohort study","volume":"349","author":"Leening","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"k4247","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.k4247","article-title":"Sex differences in risk factors for myocardial infarction: Cohort study of UK Biobank participants","volume":"363","author":"Millett","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e139","DOI":"10.1161\/CIR.0000000000000757","article-title":"Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2020 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association","volume":"141","author":"Virani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.diabet.2021.101226","article-title":"Impact of gender on relative rates of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes","volume":"47","author":"Angoulvant","year":"2021","journal-title":"Diabetes Metab."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"C7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacc.2005.09.068","article-title":"Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis","volume":"47","author":"Falk","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1483","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.037184","article-title":"Lipoprotein(a), PCSK9 Inhibition, and Cardiovascular Risk","volume":"139","author":"Fazio","year":"2019","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1802","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacc.2022.02.048","article-title":"High-Intensity Statin Use Among Patients With Atherosclerosis in the U.S","volume":"79","author":"Nelson","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e651","DOI":"10.1002\/mco2.651","article-title":"Endothelial dysfunction: Molecular mechanisms and clinical implications","volume":"5","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"MedComm"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2049","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.665570","article-title":"Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor exacerbate atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice","volume":"115","author":"Haghighat","year":"2007","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCRESAHA.124.325792","article-title":"cDC1s Promote Atherosclerosis via Local Immunity and Are Targetable for Therapy","volume":"137","author":"Galan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Circ. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1005","DOI":"10.1161\/ATVBAHA.108.162305","article-title":"A potential role of the CXC chemokine GROalpha in atherosclerosis and plaque destabilization: Downregulatory effects of statins","volume":"28","author":"Breland","year":"2008","journal-title":"Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1009","DOI":"10.1126\/science.2343305","article-title":"Localization of PDGF-B protein in macrophages in all phases of atherogenesis","volume":"248","author":"Ross","year":"1990","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.200301133","article-title":"Rap1 translates chemokine signals to integrin activation, cell polarization, and motility across vascular endothelium under flow","volume":"161","author":"Shimonaka","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1093\/cvr\/cvs094","article-title":"Contribution of monocyte-derived macrophages and smooth muscle cells to arterial foam cell formation","volume":"95","author":"Allahverdian","year":"2012","journal-title":"Cardiovasc. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2004.11.016","article-title":"Disruption of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene diminishes the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice","volume":"180","author":"Ohta","year":"2005","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2364","DOI":"10.1161\/01.ATV.19.10.2364","article-title":"Interleukin-6 exacerbates early atherosclerosis in mice","volume":"19","author":"Huber","year":"1999","journal-title":"Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.1161\/01.RES.0000018941.10726.FA","article-title":"Overexpression of interleukin-10 by activated T lymphocytes inhibits atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient Mice by altering lymphocyte and macrophage phenotypes","volume":"90","author":"Pinderski","year":"2002","journal-title":"Circ. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"516","DOI":"10.1161\/01.CIR.0000085567.18648.21","article-title":"Deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist promotes neointimal formation after injury","volume":"108","author":"Isoda","year":"2003","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"930","DOI":"10.1161\/hh2201.099415","article-title":"Inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta signaling accelerates atherosclerosis and induces an unstable plaque phenotype in mice","volume":"89","author":"Mallat","year":"2001","journal-title":"Circ. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1152\/physrev.00048.2003","article-title":"Dual role of matrix metalloproteinases (matrixins) in intimal thickening and atherosclerotic plaque rupture","volume":"85","author":"Newby","year":"2005","journal-title":"Physiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1223","DOI":"10.1161\/01.ATV.11.5.1223","article-title":"Cytokines and growth factors positively and negatively regulate interstitial collagen gene expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells","volume":"11","author":"Amento","year":"1991","journal-title":"Arterioscler. Thromb."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"611","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.020838","article-title":"Oxidized Phospholipids on Lipoprotein(a) Elicit Arterial Wall Inflammation and an Inflammatory Monocyte Response in Humans","volume":"134","author":"Bekkering","year":"2016","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2016.10.019","article-title":"Innate immune cell activation and epigenetic remodeling in symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerosis in humans in vivo","volume":"254","author":"Bekkering","year":"2016","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E254","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.00353.2021","article-title":"Investigating the protective effects of estrogen on beta-cell health and the progression of hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerosis","volume":"323","author":"Wood","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.051231","article-title":"Sex-Stratified Gene Regulatory Networks Reveal Female Key Driver Genes of Atherosclerosis Involved in Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching","volume":"143","author":"Hartman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jprot.2019.03.016","article-title":"Sex-specific differences in the intracellular proteome of human endothelial cells from dizygotic twins","volume":"201","author":"Witt","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Proteom."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83s","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.99.1.83s","article-title":"Microfilament-organizing centers in areas of cell contact: Cytoskeletal interactions during cell attachment and locomotion","volume":"99","author":"Geiger","year":"1984","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lee, C.F., Ullevig, S., Kim, H.S., and Asmis, R. (2013). Regulation of Monocyte Adhesion and Migration by Nox4. PLoS ONE, 8.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0066964"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1093\/eurheartj\/ehac647","article-title":"Vinculin phosphorylation impairs vascular endothelial junctions promoting atherosclerosis","volume":"44","author":"Shih","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. Heart J."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Boscaro, C., Trenti, A., Baggio, C., Scapin, C., Trevisi, L., Cignarella, A., and Bolego, C. (2020). Sex Differences in the Pro-Angiogenic Response of Human Endothelial Cells: Focus on PFKFB3 and FAK Activation. Front. Pharmacol., 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2020.587221"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15245","DOI":"10.1038\/srep15245","article-title":"Sex-specific association of rs4746172 of VCL gene with hypertension in two Han populations from Southern China","volume":"5","author":"Yu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Park, J.Y., Park, H.M., Kim, S., Jeon, K.B., Lim, C.M., Hong, J.T., and Yoon, D.Y. (2023). Human IL-32thetaA94V mutant attenuates monocyte-endothelial adhesion by suppressing the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 via binding to cell surface receptor integrin alphaVbeta3 and alphaVbeta6 in TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVECs. Front. Immunol., 14.","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2023.1160301"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1007\/s11010-016-2724-z","article-title":"Glycated LDL increase VCAM-1 expression and secretion in endothelial cells and promote monocyte adhesion through mechanisms involving endoplasmic reticulum stress","volume":"417","author":"Toma","year":"2016","journal-title":"Mol. Cell. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1398","DOI":"10.33594\/000000098","article-title":"Visfatin Promotes Monocyte Adhesion by Upregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells via Activation of p38-PI3K-Akt Signaling and Subsequent ROS Production and IKK\/NF-kappaB Activation","volume":"52","author":"Lin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cell. Physiol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"123","article-title":"Propionate reduces the cytokine-induced VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation","volume":"60","author":"Naruszewicz","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Physiol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"633","article-title":"Effect of Proteasome Inhibitor on Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Expressions in Rat Model of Atherosclerosis","volume":"10","author":"Ismawati","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rep. Biochem. Mol. Biol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"670","DOI":"10.1097\/SHK.0b013e31815c3ea0","article-title":"Influence of sex and age on morphological organ damage after hemorrhagic shock","volume":"29","author":"Mees","year":"2008","journal-title":"Shock"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainres.2006.08.003","article-title":"Sex differences in coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis: IL-12Rbeta1 signaling and IFN-gamma increase inflammation in males independent from STAT4","volume":"1126","author":"Nyland","year":"2006","journal-title":"Brain Res."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6710","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.178.11.6710","article-title":"Cutting edge: Cross-regulation by TLR4 and T cell Ig mucin-3 determines sex differences in inflammatory heart disease","volume":"178","author":"Davis","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"294","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbi.2020.09.001","article-title":"Sex differences in the inflammatory response to stress and risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes among patients with coronary heart disease","volume":"90","author":"Sullivan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Brain Behav. Immun."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5426","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-020-19197-8","article-title":"Modeling early stage atherosclerosis in a primary human vascular microphysiological system","volume":"11","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2011.09.003","article-title":"The use of THP-1 cells as a model for mimicking the function and regulation of monocytes and macrophages in the vasculature","volume":"221","author":"Qin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lau, S., Gossen, M., Lendlein, A., and Jung, F. (2021). Venous and Arterial Endothelial Cells from Human Umbilical Cords: Potential Cell Sources for Cardiovascular Research. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22020978"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1038\/nature12223","article-title":"Variation and genetic control of protein abundance in humans","volume":"499","author":"Wu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cels.2017.08.013","article-title":"Widespread Post-transcriptional Attenuation of Genomic Copy-Number Variation in Cancer","volume":"5","author":"Goncalves","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cell Syst."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"382","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03402127","article-title":"TNF-alpha induces actin cytoskeleton reorganization in glomerular epithelial cells involving tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase","volume":"5","author":"Koukouritaki","year":"1999","journal-title":"Mol. Med."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1477","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.127.5.1477","article-title":"Beta 2 integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in human neutrophils treated with tumor necrosis factor","volume":"127","author":"Fuortes","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103514","DOI":"10.1016\/j.redox.2025.103514","article-title":"Redox regulation of focal adhesions","volume":"80","author":"Matrullo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Redox Biol."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.201109067","article-title":"Nuclear-localized focal adhesion kinase regulates inflammatory VCAM-1 expression","volume":"197","author":"Lim","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1002\/JLB.3MA1117-429R","article-title":"Inhibiting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) blocks IL-4 induced VCAM-1 expression and eosinophil recruitment in vitro and in vivo","volume":"104","author":"Aulakh","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Leukoc. Biol."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2012.11.029","article-title":"Evaluation of VCAM-1 antibodies as therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice","volume":"226","author":"Park","year":"2013","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"ra29","DOI":"10.1126\/scisignal.aad5578","article-title":"Loss of Reelin protects against atherosclerosis by reducing leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and lesion macrophage accumulation","volume":"9","author":"Ding","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Signal."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2558","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.156.7.2558","article-title":"Cytokine-regulated expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human microvascular endothelial cells","volume":"156","author":"Haraldsen","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4574042","DOI":"10.1155\/2023\/4574042","article-title":"Beyond the Scale: Investigating Adiponectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 as Metabolic Markers in Obese Adolescents with Metabolic Syndrome","volume":"2023","author":"Widjaja","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"656","DOI":"10.1161\/01.ATV.0000064374.15232.C3","article-title":"Lack of interleukin-1beta decreases the severity of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice","volume":"23","author":"Kirii","year":"2003","journal-title":"Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1186\/s10020-021-00353-9","article-title":"Interleukin-22: A potential therapeutic target in atherosclerosis","volume":"27","author":"Luo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mol. Med."},{"key":"ref_59","first-page":"2","article-title":"Male Monocyte-Like Cells are Prone to a Senescence-Induced Pro-inflammatory State","volume":"18","author":"Samit","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aging Dis."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barcena, M.L., Christiansen-Mensch, C., Aslam, M., Haritonow, N., Ladilov, Y., and Regitz-Zagrosek, V. (2024). Upregulation of Mitochondrial Sirt3 and Alleviation of the Inflammatory Phenotype in Macrophages by Estrogen. Cells, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/cells13171420"},{"key":"ref_61","unstructured":"Wiebach, J., Fern\u00e1ndez-Ochoa, A., Bruning, U., Kruppa-Scheetz, J., Bonhomme, M., Votion, D., and Kirwan, J.A. (2026). MSlineaR Software: A New R Package Assessing Dilution Dependency to Improve Quality Assurance and Statistical Robustness in Untargeted Metabolomics. Anal. Chem., Manuscript submitted for publication."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156077","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cyto.2022.156077","article-title":"The impact of the PCSK-9\/VLDL-Receptor axis on inflammatory cell polarization","volume":"161","author":"Barcena","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cytokine"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/7\/3079\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T15:49:18Z","timestamp":1775058558000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/7\/3079"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms27073079"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms27073079","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]]}}}