Interleukin-19 (IL-19) induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and decreases reactive oxygen species in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has potent anti-inflammatory activity and recognized vascular protective effects. We have recently described the expression and vascular protective effects of an anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL-19), in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and injured arteries. The objective of this study was to link the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-19 with HO-1 expression in resident vascular cells. IL-19 induced HO-1 mRNA and protein in cultured human VSMC, as assayed by quantitative RT-PCR, immunoblot, and ELISA. IL-19 does not induce HO-1 mRNA or protein in human endothelial cells. IL-19 activates STAT3 in VSMC, and IL-19-induced HO-1 expression is significantly reduced by transfection of VSMC with STAT3 siRNA or mutation of the consensus STAT binding site in the HO-1 promoter. IL-19 treatment can significantly reduce ROS-induced apoptosis, as assayed by Annexin V flow cytometry. IL-19 significantly reduced ROS concentrations in cultured VSMC. The IL-19-induced reduction in ROS concentration is attenuated when HO-1 is reduced by siRNA, indicating that the IL-19-driven decrease in ROS is mediated by HO-1 expression. IL-19 reduces vascular ROS in vivo in mice treated with TNFα. This points to IL-19 as a potential therapeutic for vascular inflammatory diseases and a link for two previously unassociated protective processes: Th2 cytokine-induced anti-inflammation and ROS reduction.