Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Cyclophilin-D protein in the mitochondrial matrix plays a special role in the process of mitochondrial damage. Correlation between Cyclophilin-D protein and vascular endothelial cell function, as well as Cyclophilin-D protein effects on atherosclerosis and vascular stenosis are still unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between Cyclophilin-D expression and oxidative stress damage to endothelial cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing.
METHODS: ECV304 cells were cultured in phosphate buffered saline containing 500 μmol/L H2O2. siRNA silenced ppif gene was used to establish Cyclophilin-D deficiency models. The blank group was treated with phosphate buffered saline. Apoptotic rate of ECV304 cells was detected by flow cytometry; meanwhile, morphological changes were observed by electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The apoptotic rate of ECV304 cells was (32.51±6.6)% in the Cyclophilin-D deficiency group, significantly lower than (52.57±5.84)% in the H2O2 group (P=0.001). The electron microscope results showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the Cyclophilin-D deficiency group was decreased significantly as compared with the H2O2 group, and the morphological changes in the former group were slighter that were characterized as early apoptosis. Cyclophilin-D is a key protein to vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress injury.