Vitamin C can efficiently attenuate hydrocortisone-induced human microvascular endothelial cells-1 cell injury. - GreenMedInfo Summary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Vitamin C (VC) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced cell injury in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC).

METHODS: Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay and the expression of Best-3 was detected by Western blotting assay. The experiment was divided into normal control, HC injury group, VC treatment groups, HC + Best-3 siRNA group, HC + VC + Best-3 siRNA group, HC + pcDNA3.1 Best-3 group, and HC + VC + pcDNA3.1 Best-3 group.

RESULTS: HC inhibited HMEC-1 cell viability was balanced with lower expression of Best-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, VC promoted HMEC-1 cell viability was paralleled to higher expression of Best-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing Best-3 with Best-3 siRNA inhibited HMEC-1 cell viability, however, over-expression of Best-3 with pcDNA3.1 Best-3 promoted HMEC-1 cell viability. Moreover, VC and over-expression of Best-3 prevented HC-induced HMEC-1 cell apoptosis; however, silencing Best-3 further enhanced HC-induced HMEC-1 cell apoptosis. HC reduced Best-3 expression, which was alleviated by VC treatment. HC treatment decreased Bcl-2 expression, facilitated Bax expression. Both of VC and over-expression of Best-3 promoted Bcl-2 expression and decreased Bax expression. Additionally, VC and Best-3 expression have a synergistic effect.

CONCLUSIONS: VC can efficiently attenuate HC-induced HMEC-1 cell injury, which may be related to promote Best-3 expression.