ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of PKCδin free fatty acid-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.Methods In addi-tion,we looked for evidence of apoptosis-related PKCδsignal pathway.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with va-rious concentrations of free fatty acids and transiently transfected with PKCδsiRNA to inhibit PKCδ expression.Cell proliferation was determined through colorimetric assays,and apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry.Protein expression was determined from cell lysates use Western blots with antibodies against p-PKCδ Tyr512,PKCδ.Statistical analyses were performed.Results Free fatty acids had multiple effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells,including concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation,induction of apoptosis,increased Fas expression,and increased PKCδ expression and phosphorylation.Inhibition of PKCδmRNA expression by PKCδsiRNA led to a reduction in free fatty acid-induced apoptosis.Conclusion The free fatty acids-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells are possibly mediated by PKCδ.