NAP reduces murine microvascular endothelial cells proliferation induced by hyperglycemia

J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Nov;54(3):405-13. doi: 10.1007/s12031-014-0335-2. Epub 2014 May 30.

Abstract

Hyperglycemia has been identified as a risk factor responsible for micro- and macrovascular complications in diabetes. NAP (Davunetide) is a peptide whose neuroprotective actions are widely demonstrated, although its biological role on endothelial dysfunctions induced by hyperglycemia remains uninvestigated. In the present study we hypothesized that NAP could play a protective role on hyperglycemia-induced endothelial cell proliferation. To this end we investigated the effects of NAP on an in vitro model of murine microvascular endothelial cells grown in high glucose for 7 days. The MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and cyclin D1 protein expression analysis revealed that NAP treatment significantly reduces viability and proliferation of the cells. Hyperglycemia induced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and/or phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathways in a time-dependent manner. NAP treatment reduced the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT in cells grown in high glucose. These evidences suggest that NAP might be effective in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Cyclin D1
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • davunetide
  • Glucose