Effect of ibrolipim on human umbilical vein endothelial cells apoptosis and protein kinase B expression induced by high glucose

AIM To observe the effect of ibrolipim on the apoptosis and protein kinase B(PKB) phasphorylation in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)induced by high glucose,and to investigate its molecular mechanism.METHODS HUVEC-12 cell strain high glucose model groups were induced by 33.3 mmol·L-1 D-glucose,and experiments were randomized into four groups:control group,high glucose model group,ibrolipim group,and inhibitor group.HUVECs apoptosis were assessed by fluorescent staining with Hoechst33258 and flow cytometry with Annexin V-PI kit staining.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of PKB,p-PKB(Threonine308)and p-PKB(Serine473).RESULTS The apoptotic index(AI)of high glucose group(14.07±s 0.25)%increased significantly compared to that of control group(P0.01),but the AI of ibrolipim 8μmol·L-1 group(5.42±0.13)%decreased significantly compared to that of high glucose group(P0.01),and the AI of inhibiter group(12.00±0.10)%increased compared to that of ibrolipim group(P0.01).Low concentration ibrolipim inhibited high glucose-induced apoptosis of cultured HUVECs during early time,with subsequent increase in PKB phosphorylation(P0.01). Blocking PKB phosphorylation significantly abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of ibrolipim.CONCLUSION Ibrolipim at low concentration can inhibit high glucose-induced apoptosis of cultured HUVECs,which may be related to PKB phosphorylation.