同型半胱氨酸硫内酯损伤血管内皮细胞的机制研究

目的: 在体外培养的内皮细胞中探讨同型半胱氨酸硫内酯(HTL)致血管内皮细胞损伤作用及其机制。方法: 体外培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞,与不同浓度的HTL孵育,用ELISA检测内皮细胞中肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和可溶性细胞间黏附分子(sICAM)-1的浓度,荧光显微镜检测活性氧簇(ROS)的含量、核转录因子κB(NF-κB)的激活及IκBα蛋白表达,同时检测内皮细胞活力、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)漏出量与一氧化氮(NO)水平。结果: HTL(1 mmol/L)孵育内皮细胞3 h后显著增加细胞 ROS含量,刺激NF-κB转入胞核而活化,孵育细胞24 h后明显升高细胞上清液中sICAM-1和TNF-α浓度;降低细胞活力和NO的水平,增加LDH的漏出量。抗氧化剂NAC、NADPH氧化酶抑制剂Apocynin和NF-κB抑制剂PDTC可显著抑制HTL所致ROS含量的增加以及NF-κB激活,降低HTL刺激的培养液中sICAM-1和TNF-α的浓度,增加培养液中NO水平。结论: HTL诱导的血管内皮细胞功能损伤的机制可能与诱导氧化应激以及NF-κB活化有关。

Homocysteine thiolactone damages cultured endothelial cells

AIM: To approach the mechanisms of homocysteine thiolactone (HTL)-induced damage in endothelial cells. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with HTL. The concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 and TNF-α in the conditioned medium were measured by ELISA. The activity of NF-κB and the level of ROS were determined by fluorescence microscopy. Cell viability,activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and content of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium were also detected. RESULTS: Exposure of HUVECs to HTL at concentration of 1 mmol/L for 3 h potentiated the activity of NF-κB and increased the level of ROS. Incubation of HUVECs with HTL (1 mmol/ L for 24 h) markedly decreased the cell viability and NO content, and increased the level of LDH, sICAM-1 and TNF-α in the culture medium. Pretreatment with NAC, apocynin or PDTC markedly inhibited the increased activity of NF-κB and decreased the levels of ROS, TNF-α, sICAM-1, NO and LDH in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by homocysteine thiolactone in vitro may be related to the oxidative stress and the activation of NF-κB.