title: Hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: inhibition by the AMP-activated protein kinase activation.
abstract: Apoptosis has been observed in vascular cells, nerve, and myocardium of diabetic humans and experimental animals, although whether it contributes to or is a marker of complications in these tissues is unclear. Previous studies have shown that incubation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with 30 vs. 5 mmol/l glucose for 72 h causes a significant increase in apoptosis, possibly related to an increase in oxidative stress. We report here that this increase in apoptosis (assessed morphologically by TdT-mediated dUTP nick- end labeling staining) is preceded (24 h of incubation) by inhibition of fatty acid oxidation, by increases in diacylglycerol synthesis, the concentration of malonyl CoA, and caspase-3 activity, and by decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP content. In addition, the phosphorylation of Akt in the presence of 150 microU/ml insulin was impaired. No increases in ceramide content or its de novo synthesis were observed. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity was not diminished; however, incubation with the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-riboside increased AMPK activity twofold and completely prevented all of these changes. Likewise, expression of a constitutively active AMPK in HUVEC prevented the increase in caspase-3 activity. The results indicate that alterations in fatty-acid metabolism, impaired Akt activation by insulin, and increased caspase-3 activity precede visible evidence of apoptosis in HUVEC incubated in a hyperglycemic medium. They also suggest that AMPK could play an important role in protecting the endothelial cell against the adverse effects of sustained hyperglycemia.
authors.affiliation: Boston Medical Center, EBRC 820, Diabetes & Metabolism Unit, Section of Endocrinology and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. yido@medicine.bu.edu
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ido
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carling
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruderman
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008316:Malonyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D004075:Diglycerides; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D008316:Malonyl Coenzyme A; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide; D005947:Glucose