The mechanism by which homocysteine causes endothelial cell (EC) injury and/or dysfunction is not fully understood. To examine the stress-inducing effects of homocysteine on ECs, mRNA differential display and cDNA microarrays were used to evaluate changes in gene expression in cultured human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to homocysteine. Here we show that homocysteine increases the expression of GRP78 and GADD153, stress-response genes induced by agents or conditions that adversely affect the function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Induction of GRP78 was specific for homocysteine because other thiol-containing amino acids, heat shock or H2O2 did not appreciably increase GRP78 mRNA levels. Homocysteine failed to elicit an oxidative stress response in HUVEC because it had no effect on the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) including HSP70, nor did it activate heat shock transcription factor 1. Furthermore homocysteine blocked the H2O2-induced expression of HSP70. In support of our findings in vitro, steady-state mRNA levels of GRP78, but not HSP70, were elevated in the livers of cystathionine beta-synthase-deficient mice with hyperhomocysteinaemia. These studies indicate that the activation of stress response genes by homocysteine involves reductive stress leading to altered ER function and is in contrast with that of most other EC perturbants. The observation that homocysteine also decreases the expression of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and natural killer-enhancing factor B suggests that homocysteine could potentially enhance the cytotoxic effect of agents or conditions known to cause oxidative stress.

Alterations in the cellular redox potential by homocysteine promote endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, an early event in the progression of atherothrombotic disease. In this study, we demonstrate that homocysteine causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and growth arrest in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). To determine if these effects reflect specific changes in gene expression, cDNA microarrays were screened using radiolabeled cDNA probes generated from mRNA derived from HUVEC, cultured in the absence or presence of homocysteine. Good correlation was observed between expression profiles determined by this method and by Northern blotting. Consistent with its adverse effects on the ER, homocysteine alters the expression of genes sensitive to ER stress (ie, GADD45, GADD153, ATF-4, YY1). Several other genes observed to be differentially expressed by homocysteine are known to mediate cell growth and differentiation (ie, GADD45, GADD153, Id-1, cyclin D1, FRA-2), a finding that supports the observation that homocysteine causes a dose-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis in HUVEC. Additional gene profiles also show that homocysteine decreases cellular antioxidant potential (glutathione peroxidase, NKEF-B PAG, superoxide dismutase, clusterin), which could potentially enhance the cytotoxic effects of agents or conditions known to cause oxidative damage. These results successfully demonstrate the use of cDNA microarrays in identifying homocysteine-respondent genes and indicate that homocysteine-induced ER stress and growth arrest reflect specific changes in gene expression in human vascular EC.

Mitochondrial abnormalities have been identified in hepatocytes of patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and in endothelial cells from the aortas of rats with diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia. However, the mechanism by which homocysteine affects mitochondria is unknown. In this report, homocysteine-induced expression of the mitochondrial electron transport chain gene, cytochrome c oxidase III/ATPase 6,8 (CO3/ ATPase 6,8), was identified in a human megakaryocytic cell line DAMI using mRNA differential display. Steadystate mRNA levels of CO3/ATPase 6,8, as well as other mitochondrial transcripts, were increased in DAMI cells by homocysteine in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. Despite an increase in mitochondrial RNA levels and changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure, no effect on either cell growth or mitochondrial respiration rates was observed in DAMI cells exposed to homocysteine at concentrations up to 1 mM. In contrast, 1 mM homocysteine in the presence of Cu 2؉ , which is known to generate H 2 O 2 , significantly decreased mitochondrial RNA levels, caused gross morphological changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure, and inhibited both cell growth and mitochondrial respiration rates. However, precursors of cellular glutathione and preexposure to heat shock blocked the decrease in mitochondrial RNA levels caused by homocysteine and Cu 2؉ .