Effect of Hyperglycemia on Epcs Function and Regenerative Ability

Abstract

Diabetes induced hyperglycemia increases the risk of cardiovascular complications as it impacts vascular endothelial cells causing vascular dysfunction. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been suggested to participate in the repair of vascular endothelial cells once they are impacted by hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. This research aims to test the EPC subtype blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) and their ability to survive and function under chronic hyperglycemic conditions. For that, we studied BOECs viability, response to shear stress, angiogenesis ability, and barrier function under normoglycemic (5.5mM) and hyperglycemic (25mM) conditions. The results have shown significant effects of chronic hyperglycemic conditions on cell proliferation (n=3, p<0.05), and migration (n=3, p<0.05) which were decreased when compared to control. Cells responses to shear stress were not affected under these conditions. There was a trend towards an increase in permeability as indicated by barrier function assays. The decrease in those endothelial cell functions might impact the repair mechanisms needed in diabetic patients to protect from vascular complications. Further investigations are required to establish therapeutic targets to improve EPCs repair function.