ERK2 and Akt are Negative Regulators of Insulin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Stimulated VCAM-1 Expression in Rat Aorta Endothelial Cells

Diabetes is quickly becoming the most widespread disorder in the Western world. Among the most prevalent effects of diabetes is atherosclerosis, which in turn is driven in part by inflammation. Both insulin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα) increase the presence of Vascular Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of downregulating Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase-2 (ERK2) and Akt on insulin and TNFa-stimulated VCAM-1 expression.