Ladarixin Potential over the Effects of IL-8 and of Serum from Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm on Human Aortic Cells

Early cellular alterations in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are scarcely investigated. Aortic remodeling inflammation-related suggested the CXCR2/CXCL1/IL-8 axis as a therapeutic target. This study investigates CXCR1/CXCR2 antagonism in primary human aortic endothelial (HAOEC) and smooth muscle cells (HAOSMC) conditioned with IL-8 or serum from patients with AAA (sPT). Ladarixin (10 μM Lad or 25 μM) served as an inhibitor. Readouts included RT-qPCR for <i>CXCL1</i>, <i>CXCL8</i>, <i>CXCR2</i>, <i>MMP9</i>, <i>NFKB1</i>, and <i>VEGF-A</i>; zymography for MMP9 activity confocal microscopy for F-actin and mitochondria; NADPH/NADH diaphorase histochemistry for redox activity; and ATP assay. In HAOEC, IL-8 downregulated <i>CXCR2</i>, increased MMP9 activity, and induced cytoskeletal and mitochondria disorganization without altering NADH/NADPH diaphorases but increasing ATP release. At concentration of 10 μM Lad rescued cell organization and gene expression. sPT upregulated <i>CXCL8</i>, <i>CXCR2</i>, and <i>MMP9</i>, decreased NADH/NADPH diaphorases, and altered cytoskeleton and mitochondria organization in HAOEC. At concentration of 10 μM Lad (partially) and 25 μM Lad reverted gene upregulation and mitochondria distribution; both doses increased diaphorase and released ATP. HAOSMC were scantily susceptible to IL-8 and weakly responsive to sPT, slightly upregulating <i>CXCR2</i> and <i>VEGF-A</i> but increasing proMMP9 gelatinolysis. Ladarixin recovered proMMP9 activity and modulated <i>CXCL1</i>. AAA-like vascular cell alterations involve multiple inflammatory factors and are modulable by inhibition of IL-8 receptors. The results underline careful dose calibration.