Calreticulin induced endothelial ICAM-1 up-regulation associated with tristetraprolin expression alteration through PI3K/Akt/eNOS/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.

•Soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels are positively correlated with calreticulin level in RA.•Calreticulin and ICAM-1 are co-expressed in vascular endothelium and perivascular areas in RA.•Calreticulin induced PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling mediates ICAM-1 upregulation in HUVECs.•p38 MAPK mediated tristetraprolin expression alteration is involved in CRT induced ICAM-1 upregulation in HUVECs.•PI3K/Akt/eNOS/p38 MAPK signaling pathway promotes protein expression and mRNA stability of ICAM-1 and tristetraprolin in response to CRT.