Effect of NF-κB pathway on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by high glucose / 中华肾脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To verify whether the periodic or continuous exposure to high glucose may have different effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)apoptosis, and to explore the effect of NF-κB pathway on apoptosis of HUVEC induced by high glucose using the RNAi adenovirus vector. Methods RNAi combinant adenovirus vector which targeted 1566 site of NF-κB p65 mRNA was constructed and the effect of p65 gene knockdown in HUVEC was detected by Western blot analysis. Then, the RNAi adenovirus was transducted to explore the role of NF-κB pathway on the regulation of apoptosis in HUVEC induced by high glucose. The apoptosis of HUVEC was tested by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. Results High glucose could induce apoptosis of HUVEC. p65 protein expression of nuclear extracts was significantly increased in high glucose culture as compared to control group, but only slightly increased in NF-κB-specific knockdown group, which maintained at basal state. Compared with normal glucose group, the number of TUNEL-positive cells in high glucose group was significantly increased (25.81%±1.77% vs 8.20%±0.63%, P<0.05). The number of TUNEL-positive cells was decreased in 30.5 rmnol/L glucose plus Ad-1566 than that in 30.5 mmol/L glucose plus Ad-DEST (11.49%±0.92% vs 26.10%±0.98%, P<0.01). Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by high glucose was inhibited by the RNAi adenovirus. Conclusion High glucose induces apoptosis of HUVEC. Knockdown of NF-κB p65 may protect HUVEC from apoptosis by preventing high glucose-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation.