Effect of high D-glucose on apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 and bax gene in HUVEC in vitro

Objective To investigate the influence of high glucose on the induction of apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro and to explore its potential molecular mechanismes. Methods Apoptosis of HUVEC were observed by acridine orange (AO) fluorescence staining and TUNEL assay, and quantitated by flow cytometry using propidium iodid(PI) staining. The expression of bcl 2 and bax protein were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with anti human bcl 2 and bax antibodies. Results Highglucose (20 mmol/L、 40 mmol/L) may induce HUVEC apoptosis.Apoptosis of HUVEC was positively corrlated with concentrations of glucose and time dependent. Incubation of HUVEC with high glucose for 72 h increased the values of MOD×area of bax (1369±225) versus incubation with low glucose (387±97, P0.01 ), and the values of bcl 2 were unchanged (150±36 versus 186±76, P0.05 ). Conclusion Highglucose may induce HUVEC apoptosis in vitro by up regulated expression of bax.