Estrogen Receptor-α But Not -β or GPER Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Human VSMC Proliferation: Potential Role of ROS and ERK (original) (raw)

High glucose-induced oxidative stress alters estrogen effects on ERα and ERβ in human endothelial cells: Reversal by AMPK activator

The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2009

Estrogen appears to protect against cardiovascular disease in pre-menopausal women. However, these protective effects are absent in women with diabetes. The hyperglycemia and consequent oxidative stress observed in diabetes cause endothelial dysfunction, but specific effects on endothelial estrogen responses are not known. In this study, we hypothesized that high glucose conditions would alter the regulation of the estrogen receptors (ERs), ER␣ and ER␤, in endothelial cells, possibly through increased oxidative stress. The role of the AMPK activator AICAR was examined on modulating the effects of high glucose. Cultured human endothelial cells were exposed to physiologically relevant doses of 17-␤-estradiol (E2) for 24 h in presence of normal (5.5 mM) and high (30.5 mM) levels of glucose. Protein levels of estrogen receptors, ER␣ and ER␤, were measured through western blotting. Oxidative stress was measured by the dihydroethidium (DHE) assay for superoxide. Under normal glucose, E2 increased the levels of ER␣ relative ER␤; however, high glucose reversed the estrogen effects on endothelial ER expression. AMPK activation restored the physiological estrogen responses, likely through amelioration of oxidative stress. Control of oxidative stress by AMPK activation or anti-oxidants could restore normal estrogen responses even in presence of hyperglycemia.

Superoxide Anions and Endothelial Cell Proliferation in Normoglycemia and Hyperglycemia

2010

Oxygen free radicals are believed to play a key role in cellular proliferation, and increased concentrations of these molecules have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. Our aim was to study the role of superoxide anions in endothelial cell proliferation under conditions of normoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to adenoviral vectors encoding CuZnSOD (AdCuZnSOD), ␤-galactosidase (Ad␤gal), or diluent (control) were cultured in normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mmol/L) or high glucose (HG, 28 mmol/L) medium. Cell proliferation was compared by use of [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation and cell count in transduced and control cells in the setting of NG and HG. Transgene expression was detected in transduced cells by X-gal staining and by Western analysis and SOD activity assay in AdCuZnSOD-transduced cells. Superoxide production was significantly (PϽ0.05) decreased in AdCuZnSODtransduced cells cultured in both NG and HG medium. In NG, AdCuZnSOD-transduced endothelial cells had decreased proliferation compared with control cells. After 48 hours in HG, superoxide levels were increased and DNA synthesis was decreased (PϽ0.05) in control and Ad␤gal-transduced but were not affected in AdCuZnSOD-transduced cells. In addition, after 7 days in HG, cell counts were reduced (PϽ0.05) in control (73Ϯ2.5%) and Ad␤gal-transduced (75Ϯ3.4%) but not in AdCuZnSOD-transduced cells (89Ϯ3.4%). These results suggest that either a deficiency or an excess of superoxide anions inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, and the inhibitory effect of increased superoxide due to hyperglycemia can be reversed by CuZnSOD overexpression. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001;21:195-200.)

Redox signaling in vascular angiogenesis1,2 1Guest Editor: Toshikazu Yoshikawa 2This article is part of a series of reviews on “Vascular Dysfunction and Free Radicals.” The full list of papers may be found on the homepage of the journal

Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2002

Angiogenesis is thought to be regulated by several growth factors (EGF, TGF-␣, ␤-FGF, VEGF). Induction of these angiogenic factors is triggered by various stresses. For instance, tissue hypoxia exerts its pro-angiogenic action through various angiogenic factors, the most notable being vascular endothelial growth factor, which has been mainly associated with initiating the process of angiogenesis through the recruitment and proliferation of endothelial cells. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found to stimulate angiogenic response in the ischemic reperfused hearts. Short exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation, either directly or indirectly, produces ROS that induce oxidative stress which is associated with angiogenesis or neovascularization. ROS can cause tissue injury in one hand and promote tissue repair in another hand by promoting angiogenesis. It thus appears that after causing injury to the cells, ROS promptly initiate the tissue repair process by triggering angiogenic response.

Interaction between reactive oxygen metabolites and nitric oxide in oxidant tolerance1,2 1This article is part of a series of reviews on “Vascular Dysfunction and Free Radicals.” The full list of papers may be found on the homepage of the journal. 2Guest Editor: Toshikazu Yoshikawa

Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2002

The excessive generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) leads to an oxidative stress in the microvasculature of a variety of tissues and has been implicated as a causative event in a number of pathologies. There are numerous reviews on this topic that have been published recently. Herein, we will focus on a beneficial effect of ROM generation that leads to the development of an adaptive response that protects tissue from a subsequent oxidative stress (oxidant tolerance). We will focus on reductionist approaches (studies in isolated cells) used by our laboratory and those of others to define the mechanisms involved in this adaptational response and potential interactions between different cells within the tissue. As our prototype organ system, we target the heart, which has received the greatest amount of attention in this area. We will summarize evidence from isolated endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes that supports (i) the role of ROM in the development of oxidant tolerance, (ii) the possibility of an interaction between cardiac myocytes and endothelial cells in this phenomenon, and (iii) the potential interactions between ROMs and nitric oxide.

The effects of glucose-induced oxidative stress on growth and extracellular matrix gene expression of vascular smooth muscle cells

Diabetologia, 1998

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. In population based studies diabetes is associated with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease [1], cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease [2]. The high prevalence of macrovascular disease is partly explained by the increased frequency of conventional risk factors and partly by risk factors specific for diabetes including hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and dyslipidaemia. The view that diabetic vasculopathy is, at least in part, related to excess free radicals is supported by evidence such as increased lipid peroxidation [3] and reduced antioxidant reserve in patients with diabetes [4] and from studies showing a direct cytotoxic effect of free Diabetologia (1998) 41: 1210±1219

Hyperglycemia-induced Oxidative Stress and its Role in Diabetes Mellitus Related Cardiovascular Diseases

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Diabetes mellitus is associated to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Hyperglycemia is an important factor in cardiovascular damage, working through different mechanisms such as activation of protein kinase C, polyol and hexosamine pathways, advanced glycation end products production. All of these pathways, in association to hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress, promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation that, in turn, promote cellular damage and contribute to the diabetic complications development and progression. ROS can directly damage lipids, proteins or DNA and modulate intracellular signaling pathways, such as mitogen activated protein kinases and redox sensitive transcription factors causing changes in protein expression and, therefore, irreversible oxidative modifications. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress induces endothelial dysfunction that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of micro- and macro-vascular diseases. It may also increase pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant factors expression, induce apoptosis and impair nitric oxide release. Oxidative stress induces several phenotypic alterations also in vascular smooth-muscle cell (VSMC). ROS is one of the factors that can promote both VSMC proliferation/migration in atherosclerotic lesions and VSMC apoptosis, which is potentially involved in atherosclerotic plaque instability and rupture. Currently, there are contrasting clinical evidences on the benefits of antioxidant therapies in the prevention/treatment of diabetic cardiovascular complications. Appropriate glycemic control, in which both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes are reduced, in association to the treatment of dyslipidemia, hypertension, kidney dysfunction and obesity, conditions which are also associated to ROS overproduction, can counteract oxidative stress and, therefore, both microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus.

Pleiotropic and Potentially Beneficial Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on the Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Endothelial Cells

2021

Endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to molecular dioxygen and its derivative reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are now well established as important signaling messengers. Excessive production of ROS, however, results in oxidative stress, a significant contributor to the development of numerous diseases. Here, we analyze the experimental data and theoretical concepts concerning positive pro-survival effects of ROS on signaling pathways in endothelial cells (ECs). Our analysis of the available experimental data suggests possible positive roles of ROS in induction of pro-survival pathways, downstream of the Gi-protein-coupled receptors, which mimics insulin signaling and prevention or improvement of the endothelial dysfunction. It is, however, doubtful, whether ROS can contribute to the stabilization of the endothelial barrier.