title: Effects of high glucose on human umbilical vein endothelial cell permeability and myosin light chain phosphorylation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms underlying high-glucose-induced atherosclerosis remain unclear. This study was designed to observe the effects of high-glucose stimulation on the permeability of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to explore the effects of RhoA-Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signal transduction pathway activation and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation.
  
  
  METHODS
  HUVECs were cultured in conventional M199 medium to produce endothelial cell monolayers, and stimulated with high-glucose-M199 medium. The transmembrane transport of dextran and THP-1 cells and levels of MLC phosphorylation were measured. The effects of blocking the RhoA-ROCK pathway using dnRhoA or the ROCK inhibitor Y27632 on dextran and THP-1 transport and MLC phosphorylation were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transendothelial migration of dextran and THP-1 cells were significantly increased by stimulation of HUVEC monolayers with high glucose (P < 0.05). This effect was attenuated by treatment with dnRhoA or Y27632.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-glucose stimulation upregulated MLC phosphorylation and increased endothelial permeability by activating the RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway in HUVECs in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: De-Liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiang-Song
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe East Road, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: High glucose; Human umbilical vein endothelial cell; Myosin light chain; Permeability; RhoA/ROCK pathway