title: Homocysteine enhances endothelial apoptosis via upregulation of Fas-mediated pathways.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanism of endothelial cell injury in hyperhomocysteinemia has not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on Fas-mediated apoptosis in endothelial cells. Hcy-induced upregulation of Fas in endothelial cells (ECs) in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, Hcy increased intracellular peroxide in ECs. Hcy-induced Fas expression was inhibited by the treatment with catalase. Hcy increased NF-kappaB DNA binding activity, and adenovirus-mediated transfection of a Ikappa-B mutant (Ikappa-B mt) gene inhibited Hcy-induced Fas expression. ECs were sensitive to Fas-mediated apoptosis when exposed to Hcy. Under these condition, Ikappa-B mt protected ECs from Fas-mediated apoptosis. In addition, Hcy inhibited expression of the caspase-8 inhibitor FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP). Adenovirus-mediated transfection of constitutively active Akt gene abolished the Hcy-mediated downregulation of FLIP. These data suggest that upregulation of Fas expression and downregulation of FLIP is a mechanism through which Hcy induces EC apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suhara
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuo
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsubakimoto
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Toyohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.forename: Taeko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaimoto
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C506387:Cflar protein, mouse; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D006710:Homocysteine; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt