Hyperglycemia induced gene expression changes in HUVEC and HMEC

Abstract

Hyperglycemic condition causes endothelial dysfunction through increased oxidative stress and downstream changes in enzymatic activity and gene expression. Research studies are examining the effect of hyperglycemia on enzymatic activities and gene expression changes in endothelial cells from individual sources of vascular system. One of the crucial hypotheses is to understand the effects of hyperglycemia in endothelial cells from different areas of vasculature. In this study, we investigated and compared the effects of high glucose exposure on HUVEC and HMEC using comparative gene expression analysis approach. Gene expression levels of pro‐oxidant enzymes such as NOS and NOX family, ROS neutralizing enzymes such as SOD, catalase (CAT) and Peroxidase (PRDX) and, cell survival signaling pathway intermediates such as ASK1 and Nrf‐2 were compared in both endothelial cell types upon exposure to high glucose. Significant up‐regulation in gene expression levels of NOS and NOX family enzymes, SOD, CAT, ASK1 and Nrf‐2 were observed in HMEC cells under high glucose exposure. On the contrary, HUVEC showed up‐regulation in ASK1 and a down‐regulation in SOD and CAT enzymes. The results are significant to understand differential effects of hyperglycemia in HUVEC and HMEC endothelial cells. Supported by NIH R01 HL084337.