Intermittent high glucose enhances apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Nov;281(5):E924-30. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.2001.281.5.E924.

Abstract

To explore the effect of fluctuating glucose on endothelial cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated for 14 days in media containing different glucose concentrations: 5 mmol/l, 20 mmol/l, or a daily alternating 5 or 20 mmol/l glucose. Apoptosis was studied by different methods: viability assay, cell cycle analysis, DNA fragmentation, and morphological analysis. Furthermore, the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, well known proteins involved in apoptosis, were evaluated. Stable high glucose induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, a phenomenon accompanied by a significant decrease of Bcl-2 and a simultaneous increase of Bax expression. However, apoptosis was enhanced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to intermittent, rather than constant, high glucose concentration. In this condition, Bcl-2 was not detectable, whereas Bax expression was significantly enhanced. These findings suggest that variability in glycemic control could be more deleterious to endothelial cells than a constant high concentration of glucose.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Fragmentation
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Glucose / administration & dosage*
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Umbilical Veins
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Substances

  • BAX protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Glucose