Basigin (CD147) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates several physiological processes, including the production and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The activity of CD147 depends mainly on its glycosylation, which varies among pathophysiological conditions. However, it is unknown whether CD147 activity or its function in MMP regulation are affected by the diabetic environment, which is characterized by high glucose (HG) levels and an excess of glycation end products (AGEs). In this study, we investigated the effect of HG and AGEs on CD147 expression in human adipocytes. We also examined the mediating role of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and receptor of AGE (RAGE) to this effect. Our findings show that carboxymethyl lysine and HG increased CD147 expression and glycosylation, which was accompanied by increases in MMP2 and MMP9 expression and activity, as well as upregulations of the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, MGAT5. These effects were abolished by NFκB and RAGE inhibition, CD147 gene silencing, and by the glycosylation inhibitor, tunicamycin. In conclusion, the current findings indicate that AGEs and HG induce CD147 expression and glycosylation in adipocytes, with possible mediation by NFκB and RAGE. One of the critical outcomes of this pathway is augmented MMP activity known to contribute to cardiovascular complications in diabetes.
Keywords: CD147; adipocytes; advanced glycation end-products; diabetes; glycosylation; matrix metalloproteinases.