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Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(11): 732-739
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-955084
Original Basic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species by Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells: Influence of Hyperglycemia and Metformin

C. Bellin 1 , D. H. de Wiza 1 , N. F. Wiernsperger 1 , 2 , P. Rösen 1
  • 1German Diabetes Research Centre, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 2INSERM UMR585, INSA Lyon, Lyon, France
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 March 2006

Accepted after revision 15 August 2006

Publication Date:
16 November 2006 (online)

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Abstract

There is evidence that reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes. On the other hand, metformin, one of the most often used antidiabetic compounds has not only been shown to reduce the risk for vascular complications, but in addition these protective effects are largely independent of its well-known antihyperglycemic action. Therefore, to explain the vasculoprotective effects of metformin, a direct antioxidative action of this compound has been suggested. We show here that human endothelial cells (HUVEC) generate ROI not only in response to high glucose (30 mmol/l glucose), but also in response to palmitic acid, and advanced glycation end-products (carboxymethyllysine and S100 proteins). Metformin inhibited the production of ROI in response to all these stimuli. By double staining-dichlorofluorescein as marker of ROI and Mitotracker CMH-Ros for mitochondria-the mechanism of ROI generation was analyzed in more detail in smooth muscle cells. Our data suggest that ROI are generated by uncoupling of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as by activation of the cytosolic NADPH-oxidase. A complete inhibition of ROI generation is only achieved by simultaneous inhibition of the mitochondrial electron flux (theonyltrifluoroacetone) and NADPH-oxidase (apocynin). Our data suggest that the various processes contributing to generation of ROI are closely linked. Activation of AMP kinase may represent an important mechanism to understand the antioxidative effects of metformin on the mitochondrial and cytosolic generation of ROI.

Key words

Diabetes - rat aortic smooth muscle cells - endothelial cells - hyperglycemia - fatty acid - AGE - mitochondria - reactive oxygen intermediates

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Correspondence

Prof. Dr. P. Rösen

German Diabetes Research Centre·Leibniz Institute at the Heinrich-Heine-University

Auf'm Hennekamp 65

40225 Düsseldorf

Phone: +49/211/33 82 56 2

Fax: +49/211/33 82 43 0

Email: roesen@uni-duesseldorf.de

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