Endothelial dysfunction is a critical factor during the initiation of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Berberine can ameliorate endothelial dysfunction induced by diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of berberine on palmitate-induced endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The cell viability of HUVECs was determined by MTT assays. Nitric oxide (NO) level and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined in supernatants or in the cultured HUVECs. The mRNA level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was measured by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of eNOS, p-eNOS, Akt, p-Akt, AMPK, p-AMPK, and NADPH oxidase (NOX4) were analyzed. The results demonstrated that berberine significantly elevated NO levels and reduced the production of ROS. The expressions of eNOS were significantly increased, while NOX4 protein expression was decreased in berberine-treated HUVECs. Moreover, berberine upregulated the protein expression of AMPK and p-AMPK in palmitate-treated HUVECs, but had no effect on the levels of Akt. Therefore, berberine ameliorates palmitate-induced endothelial dysfunction by upregulating eNOS expression and downregulating expression of NOX4. This regulatory effect of berberine may be related to the activation of AMPK. 1. Introduction Cardiovascular complications are main causes of high mortality and morbidity induced by obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Endothelial dysfunction has been known as a critical factor and main pathological change during the development of vascular complication [1]. Lipid metabolic disorder plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. An abnormality in patients with all of these disorders is an increase in the plasma concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) [2]. Elevated FFA may cause a series of pathophysiological changes in the endothelium, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling, intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell apoptosis, which in turn contribute to accelerating the endothelium dysfunction associated with excessive acceleration of atherosclerosis. Studies showed that high concentration of FFA impair the eNOS activity and reduce the production and bioactivity of NO in endothelial cells. FFA overload attenuates Ca2+ signaling and eNOS activity, reduces NO production, and indirectly leads to endothelial dysfunction in endothelial
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