Effects of high-glucose on proliferation and apoptosis in endothelial progenitor cells of type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to observe the effects of high-glucose on proliferation and apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, and tried to elucidate their possible role. METHODS: Various concentrations of glucose were added to the culture system of EPCs from 25 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (DM group) and 25 cases of healthy volunteers (control group). MTT assays were used to detect the proliferative rates. Annexin-V/PI stains were used to detect the apoptotic rates, and RT-PCR to detect the expression level of bcl-2 and bax. RESULTS: Proliferative activity of EPCs in both control group and DM group were attenuated when concentration of glucose was 33 mmol/L, while apoptotic rates increased. No significant change of proliferative rate and apoptotic rate of EPCs in DM group and control group in the presence of 5 mmol/L glucose was observed. The expression level of bax of EPCs in both DM group and control group increased while expression level of bcl-2 did not change much in the presence of 33 mmol/L glucose. CONCLUSION: High-glucose attenuates proliferative activity of EPCs and increases the apoptotic rate. Upregulation of bax may be its possible role.