Effects of free fatty acids,glucose and insulin on cell survival of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Objective To study influence of saturated fatty acids, high glucose, high insulin and combination of them on cell survival of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and to explore the degree and manner of vascular endothelial cells injury under the factors. Methods (1) The cell survival rate was assessed using MTT method after the cells were treated with various concentrations of palmitic acid (PA), insulin (Ins), D-glucose (Glu). (2) Apoptosis and necrosis of the cells were determined using annexin V- GFP/PI staining. Results (1)PA of 100 μmol/L markedly suppressed cell survival. (2)When cells were incubated in 50 U/L Ins, the cell survival rate was increased by (36.8±4.6)% comparing with the control group at 72 h.(3) The cell survival rate was increased by (28±3.2)% when cells were incubated with mixture of 400 μmol/L PA plus 50 U/L Ins comparing with 400 μmol/L PA alone (P0.05). (4) The cell death was accelerated when cells were incubated at mixture of 400 μmol/L PA plus 22.2 mmol/L Glu .(5) The cell survival rate was increased by (17.6±2.3)% when cells were incubated with mixture of 400 μmol/L PA +50 U/L Ins+22.2 mmol/L Glu comparing with 400 μmol/L PA+ 22.2 mmol/L Glu. (6) 22.2 mmol/L of Glu could not cause cell death, but induced apoptosis . (7) PA induced apoptosis at low dose within 4 h, but induced necrosis at high dose and longer time. Conclusions PA has much stronger toxicity than glucose on vascular endothelial cells. High level of insulin has protective effect on HUVEC. High concentration of glucose has no effect on cell survival, but Glu can accelerate the cell death induced by PA.