Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (在线): 1-7.

   

Effects of sodium arsenite on human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury and sphingosine kinases 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis

Fang Xingyan1, Tian Zhenli1, Zhao Zheyi2, Wen Ping3, Xie Tingting1   

  1. 1Center for Clinical Laboratory, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University; School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China; 2Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu 614000, Sichuan Province, China; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • Received:2022-03-14 Revised:2022-05-13 Online:2023-01-08 Published:2022-05-30
  • Contact: Xie Tingting, MD, Associate professor, Master’s supervisor, Center for Clinical Laboratory, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University; School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • About author:Fang Xingyan, Master candidate, Center for Clinical Laboratory, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University; School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81560514 (to XTT)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial cells are the main target of arsenic toxicity and the molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced endothelial cell injury needs to be further studied.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of sodium arsenite on human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury and sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated, cultured, and identified. The cells were treated with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 µmol/L sodium arsenite for 24 hours. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8. Cell morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope. The content of intracellular reactive oxygen species was detected by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeling combined with flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to detect apoptosis. The content of sphingosine 1-phosphate in cells was detected by ELISA. The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, sphingosine kinase 1, and sphingosine 1-phosphate were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot respectively. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group (0 µmol/L sodium arsenite), the cell viability decreased gradually along with the increased concentration of sodium arsenite in a dose-dependent manner; the cell fusion rate decreased gradually, the cell gap widened gradually, and the number of exfoliated and floating cells increased gradually; the reactive oxygen species content and apoptosis rate increased gradually; the sphingosine 1-phosphate content in cells increased gradually; the relative mRNA and protein expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and sphingosine kinase 1 increased gradually, while the relative mRNA and protein expression of sphingosine kinase 1 decreased gradually. To conclude, sodium arsenite-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury may be related to the activation of sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis and the downregulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1. Sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis may become a new target of arsenic-induced cardiovascular injury.

Key words: sodium arsenite, human umbilical vein endothelial cell, oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis

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