Advanced glycosylation end products and high fat-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the protective effect of puerarin

[Objective]Hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells may be con- tributed to the acceleration of atherosclerosis associated with diabetes.This study confirmed that acylated ghrelin attenuated hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(ECV-304).[Methods]Advanced glycosylation end products and high fat were used to establish the cellular model,Caspase3 protein expression was detected by immunocytochemistry.The apoptotic cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis.[Results]Compared with normal glucose,exposure of ECV-304 in hyperglycemia level for 36 h significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells,but pretreatment with puerarin for 12 h and then culturing for 36 h could attenuate hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis significantly(P0.05).[Conclusion]The results of our study indicated that puerarin could inhibit high glucose and fat induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cell,having some effect in prevention against the complications of diabetes and atherosclerosis.