High Glucose–Induced Apoptosis in Human Endothelial Cells Is Mediated by Sequential Activations of c-Jun NH ₂ -Terminal Kinase and Caspase-3

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus causes multiple cardiovascular complications. High glucose can induce reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in endothelial cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms in high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We elucidated the signaling pathway of high glucose-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were treated with media containing 5.5, 19, or 33 mmol/L of glucose in the presence or absence of an antioxidant, ascorbic acid. The level of intracellular H(2)O(2) was measured by flow cytometry. For detection of apoptosis, the cell death detection ELISA assay and the morphological Hoechst staining were used. High glucose was capable of inducing the activity of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase during the treatment periods, as evidenced by immunocomplex kinase assay. Moreover, we found that the interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)/CED-3 family protease (caspase-3) became activated in high glucose-induced apoptosis. Caspase-3/CPP32-specific inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, could inhibit high glucose-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that JNK1 specific antisense oligonucleotide could suppress caspase-3 activity but not affect H(2)O(2) generation and could block apoptosis induced by high glucose. Also, H(2)O(2) generation, JNK activity, caspase-3 activity, and the subsequent apoptosis induced by high glucose could be suppressed by ascorbic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that reactive oxygen species induced by high glucose may be involved in JNK activation, which in turn triggers the caspase-3 that facilitates the apoptosis in HUVECs.