Involvement of CaSR in hyperglycemia-induced macroangiopathy and related mechanism

In order to clarify the potential role of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), a typical G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), in hyperglacemia-induced macroangiopathy, experimental hyperglycemia models in vivo and in vitro were prepared. Firstly, SD rats were divided into control group (n=10) and diabetes group (n=10), and diabetic model was induced via high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) injection. Hydroxyproline level, determined via Choramnie T oxidation method, in vessel wall in diabetic rats was 30% more than that in control group. The gene transcription and expression levels were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Both of collagen I and III mRNA levels in diabetic aorta were nearly twice those in normal aorta. The cleaved caspase-3 and −9 were elevated 1.5 and 2.5 times respectively in diabetic vascular cells. As compared with controls, mRNA and protein levels of CaSR in aorta were increased by 3 and 1.5 times in diabetes group. The expression levels of Bax as well as pro-apoptotic kinases (phospho-p38 and phosphor-JNK) were also increased 2, 0.5 and 0.5 times respectively in diabetic rats. To further validate the involvement of CaSR in cell apoptosis and explore the potential mechanism, the endothelial cell line (human umbilical vascular endothelial cells, HUVECs) was stimulated with high concentration of glucose (33 mmol/L) to mimic hyperglycemia in vitro. Cell-based assays also showed that the CaSR level and key apoptotic proteins (cleaved caspase-3 and −9, Bax, phospho-p38 and phosphor-JNK) were elevated in response to stimulation, and inhibition of CaSR by using specific inhibitor (NPS-2143, 10 μmol/L) could protect cells against apoptosis. Our results demonstrated that CaSR might take important part in the development of diabetic macroangiopathy through promoting cell apoptosis induced by hyperglycemia.