Adenoviral Gene Delivery of Elafin and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Attenuates NF-κB-Dependent Inflammatory Responses of Human Endothelial Cells and Macrophages to Atherogenic Stimuli

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting arterial vessels. Strategies to reduce the inflammatory responses of endothelial cells and macrophages may slow lesion development and prevent complications such as plaque rupture. The human protease human neutrophil elastase (HNE), oxidized low density lipoprotein, LPS, and TNF-alpha were chosen as model stimuli of arterial wall inflammation and led to production of the chemokine IL-8 …