title: Primary role of superoxide anion generation in the cascade of events leading to endothelial dysfunction and damage in high glucose treated HUVEC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to elucidate the chain of events leading to oxidative damage in endothelial cells exposed to high glucose.
  
  
  METHODS
  The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst FP15, the inhibitor of mitochondrial complex II thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP) were individually added to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultured in high glucose. This study was designed to establish the possible sequence of action of NOS, peroxynitrite and superoxide anion in the oxidative damage cascade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that in high glucose, nitrotyrosine, 8OHdG, NO (+40%) and O2- (+300%) production, eNOS and caspase-3 expression increased, while Bcl-2 expression decreased. MnTBAP and TTFA were able to normalize all the parameters assayed. FP15 caused an increase in NO production, did not interfere with eNOS expression and O2- generation, but was able to reduce apoptosis and to normalize nitrotyrosine and 8OHdG formation. BH4 enrichment was able to reduce O2- generation, nitrotyrosine and 8OHdG formation and apoptosis. The addition of this cofactor did not affect eNOS expression, but increased NO formation, more than FP15.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show the starting role of superoxide anion generated at mitochondrial level in the cascade of events leading to hyperglycemia generated apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Morpurgo-Hofman Research Laboratory on Aging, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quagliaro
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piconi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Assaloni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Da Ros
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceriello
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D017209:Apoptosis; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008665:Metalloporphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013804:Thenoyltrifluoroacetone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D008665:Metalloporphyrins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C097284:manganese(III)-tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin; D013481:Superoxides; D001708:Biopterins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013804:Thenoyltrifluoroacetone; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D053148:Caspase 3; C003402:sapropterin; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D005947:Glucose