Caspase-3 expression and cell morphology of early endothelial progenitor cells exposed to N-epsilon-carboxymethyl lysine

Abstract

Agus Yuwono, Nur Permatasari, Dian Nugrahenny, Djanggan Sargowo,Achmad Rudijanto, Djoko Wahono Soeatmadji

The role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on vascular repair and neovasculogenesis is impaired in diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of N-epsilon-carboxymethyl lysine (CML) on caspase-3 expression and morphology of early EPCs. After 7 days of culturing, primary cultures of early EPCs were randomly divided into four groups. One group is a normal group. Three groups were exposed to low (50 µg/ml), medium (100 µg/ml), and high (200 µg/ml) doses of CML for an hour. The caspase-3 expression and morphology of early EPCs were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope. The caspase-3 expression of early EPCs increased in groups exposed to low and medium dose of CML, and decreased in group exposed to high dose of CML compared to normal. Exposure of CML changed the morphology of early EPCs including cells shrinkage, unclear margin between cytoplasm and nucleus, also oval-shape cells. Given that CML may contribute to the functional defects of the endothelium in diabetes by causing early EPCs apoptosis via increased caspase-3 expression.