Effects Of Astragalus On Expression Of Ace2, Apelin, Apj In Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Exposed To High Glucose

Objective:To investigate the expression of ACE2, Apelin, APJ mRNA by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to high glucose and research the effective mechanism of ACE2, Apelin, APJ on HUVECs.Methods:According to the requirements of experiment, HUVECs were incubated in different concentrations of glucose (15mmol/L,25 mmol/L,45 mmol/L)for 4 h,12 h,2.4 h,48 h,72 h and different concentrations of astragalus (0.1 g/L,0.2 g/L,0.3 g/L) for 24 h. Cultured HUVECs were divided into:normal contral group, high glucose group, low concentration astragalus group (0.1g/L astragalus+high glucose) and high concentration astragalus group (0.2g/L astragalus+high glucose).When HUVECs were incubated in different concentrations of glucose and astragalus for 24 h, proliferation activity of HUVECs were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8); morphological changes of HUVECs were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope; the expressions of ACE2, ACE, Apelin, APJ, eNOS mRNA in HUVECs were investigated by RT-PCR techniques.Results:After 24 hours,compared with the normal control group, proliferation activity of HUVECs in high glucose group was significantly decreased(P<0.01) in high glucose group; Morphological destroies of HUVECs in high glucose group were observed under the microscope; The expression of ACE mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.01) in high glucose group, the expressions of ACE2,Apelin,APJ,eNOS mRNA in high glucose group were significantly decreased (P<0.05); Compared with the high glucose group, proliferation activity of HUVECs in low and high concentration astragalus groups was significantly increased (P<0.05); morphological improvements of HUVECs in low and high concentration astragalus groups were observed under the microscope; The expression of ACE mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in high glucose group, the expressions of ACE2,Apelin,APJ,eNOS mRNA in low and high concentration astragalus groups were significantly increased(P<0.05). There were significantly negative correlation between eNOS and the expression of ACE mRNA (r=-0.981,P<0.05),the eNOS showed a significantly positive correlation with the expression of ACE2,Apelin,APJ mRNA(r=0.920,r=0.992,r=0.970,P<0.05).Conclusion That high glucose induces the expression of ACE2,Apelin,APJ mRNA of HUVECs decrease and the expression of ACE mRNA of HUVECs increase may be the one of the causes that high glucose injury HUVECs. Astragalus can reduce the harmfulness of HUVECs exposed to high glucose, and it may be related to the up-regulation of ACE2,Apelin,APJ mRNA and down-regulation of ACE mRNA in HUVECs. ACE2, Apelin and APJ can protect HUVECs exposed to high glucose,eNOS may be the their common signal pathway. Astragalus can reduce the harmfulness of HUVECs exposed to high glucose by increasing the expression of eNOS mRNA.