A Study on the Correlation between GALNT2 in HRCECs and p-EGFR under High Sugar Conditions
Objective: To investigate the effects of knocking down peptide N-acetylgalactosamine transferase 2 (GALNT2) and inhibiting phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor under high glucose conditions on the proliferation and apoptosis of retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRCECs). Method: This study focuses on cultured HRCECs in vitro under high glucose (25 mmol·L − 1) conditions, and divides them into a mock group (25 mmol·L − 1glucose), mock + shGALNT2 group (25 mmol·L − 1glucose + GALNT2 knockdown virus), mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group (25 mmol·L − 1glucose + control virus + Chrysophanol), mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group (25 mmol·L − 1glucose + GALNT2 knockdown virus + Chrysophanol) and culture medium were cultured in a constant temperature incubator at 37˚C for 24 hours. The relative expression level of GALNT2 mRNA, cell proliferation value, apoptosis rate, GALNT2, EGFR, EGF, and p-EGFR proteins were compared between the groups. Results: The relative expression levels of GALNT2 mRNA in the cells of the mock group, mock + shGALNT2 group, mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group, were compared with mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared with mock + shGALNT2 group, the cell proliferation values in mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol and mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group were significantly reduced, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001); Compared with mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group, the cell proliferation value in mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The apoptosis rates of mock group, mock + shGALNT2 group, mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group and mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group were (8.66 ± 0.22)%, (5.47 ± 0.16)%, (11.94 ± 0.85)% and (6.70 ± 0.26)% respectively. The overall differences were statistically significant (F = 96.56), (P < 0.001). Compared with mock + shGALNT2 group, the apoptosis rate of the mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001); Compared with the mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group, the apoptosis rate of the mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group was significantly reduced, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared with mock + shGALNT2 group, the relative expression level of GALNT2 protein in the mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol and mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group significantly was increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Comparison of relative protein expression levels of EGF, EGFR, and p-EGFR proteins in mock + shGALNT2, the mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol group showed an increasing trend, and the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Under high glucose conditions, knocking down GALNT2 can enhance the proliferation ability of HRCEC cells and reduce apoptosis by mediating p-EGFR.
Diabetes Retinopathy
糖尿病(diabetes mellitus, DM)是一组由遗传、环境和自身免疫性疾病引起的慢性代谢性疾病。长期的代谢紊乱可导致微血管和大血管疾病、神经并发症等。糖尿病视网膜病变(diabetes retinopathy, DR)是DM最常见和最严重的微血管并发症之一
将HRCECs细胞置于含有1 × 105U∙L−1青/链霉素和体积分数10%胎牛血清的DMEM培养基中进行培养,在37℃、体积分数5% CO2的恒温培养箱中进行培养。
用适量PBS溶液将葡萄糖配置成25 mmol∙L−1浓度。取生长良好的HRCECs细胞,在4孔板中铺板,每孔细胞数为5 × 106个。向每孔细胞上加入25 mmol∙L−1浓度的葡萄糖培养48 h,建立高糖模型。
取HRCECs分为mock组(25 mmol∙L−1葡萄糖)
1) RT-PCR法检测各组GALNT2 mRNA表达情况 提取“1.2.3”中培养的各组细胞,胰蛋白酶消化、离心,收集细胞,采用Trizol提取各组细胞总RNA,根据逆转录试剂盒说明书合成cDNA,以cDNA作为模板在PCR仪上进行扩增反应,PCR扩增反应条件:95℃ 20 min,随后95℃预变性30 s,95℃变性5 s,65℃退火30 s,共40个循环。各组设计3个复孔,实验重复3次。以GAPDH为内参,采用2−△△Ct法计算各组中GALNT2的相对表达水平。
2) CCK-8法检测HRCECs细胞增生值 提取“1.2.3”中培养的各组细胞,PBS清洗后,加入2 mL 0.025 g∙L−1胰蛋白酶消化、离心,弃去上清,再补充20 mL细胞培养基,均匀吹打,将细胞均匀的接种到96孔板中,每组设置3个复孔,每孔细胞数为5 × 106∙L−1,37℃,体积分数5% CO2细胞培养箱培养24 h,每孔加入10 μl CCK-8溶液,培养箱孵育4 h,连续5 d测定在酶标仪450 nm波长处的细胞吸光度值(A值)。实验重复3次。
3) 流式细胞术检测HRCECs细胞凋亡率 提取“1.2.3”中培养的各组细胞,0.025 g∙L−1胰酶消化细胞,5 min离心去上清,PBS洗涤细胞2次,取出PBS重悬细胞,再次离心,弃去上清,加入1 × Binding Buffer稀释为1 × 109∙L−1,取100 μl细胞悬液,加入5 μl FITC Annexin V和5 μl PI,混匀后25℃避光孵育15 min,后每管加入400 μl 1 × Binding Buffer,流式细胞仪上进行流式分析。每组设置3个复孔,实验重复3次,凋亡率计算法:细胞总凋亡率 = 早期凋亡率 + 晚期凋亡率。
4) Western blot法检测GALNT2、EGFR、P-EGFR和EGF蛋白相对表达量 提取“1.2.3”中培养的各组细胞,胰蛋白酶消化,用预冷PBS洗涤3次。加入500 μl RIPA裂解液提取各组细胞总蛋白,BCA试剂盒测定各样品浓度,100℃ 10 min,至蛋白完全变性,配制SDS-PAGE凝胶,以GAPDH为内参,取40 ug总蛋白依次进行电泳、转膜和封闭过程。一抗孵育:取出封闭完好的PVDF膜,加入相应的一抗(GALNT2抗体1:2000稀释、EGF抗体1:2000稀释、EGFR 1:2000稀释、p-EGFR 1:2000稀释、GAPDH抗体1:3000稀释),4℃摇床孵育过夜;二抗:加入对应二抗(羊抗兔抗体按1:3000稀释),室温孵育2 h,洗膜后显影,采用凝胶成像系统曝光拍照,ImageJ软件分析各组蛋白条带灰度值,每组设置3个复孔,实验重复3次。
采用SPSS26.0软件进行统计学分析,GraphPad Prism8.0软件进行绘制图片,符合正态分布的数据使用(均数 ± 标准差)表示,多组间比较采用单因素方差(F)分析各组数据之间的差异,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。P < 0.05即认为有显著统计学意义。
通过实时定量PCR检测mock组、mock + shGALNT2组、mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组细胞中GALNT2 mRNA相对表达量分别为2.946 ± 0.532、0.613 ± 0.081、1.011 ± 0.186和0.356 ± 0.041,总体比较差异有统计学意义(F = 50.83, P < 0.001)。mock + shGALNT2组、mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组、mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol 组GALMT2 mRNA相对表达量低于mock组,差异均有统计学意义(P < 0.001)。mock + shGALNT2组、mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组两两比较,差异均无统计学意义(P > 0.05),见
培养5 d后,各组进行HRCECs细胞增生值统计,mock + shGALNT2组中细胞增生值高于mock组,mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组中细胞增生值低于mock组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophano组中细胞增生值低于mock + shGALNT2组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组中细胞增生值高于mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01),见
组别 |
样本量 |
A值 |
细胞凋亡率(%) |
mock组 |
3 |
2.164 ± 0.004 |
8.66 ± 0.22 |
mock + shGALNT2组 |
3 |
2.822 ± 0.008a |
5.47 ± 0.16a |
mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组 |
3 |
1.585 ± 0.008ab |
11.94 ± 0.85ab |
mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组 |
3 |
2.023 ± 0.018abc |
6.70 ± 0.26ac |
F |
5731 |
96.56 |
|
P |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
注:与mock组比较,aP < 0.01;与mock + shGALNT2组比较,bP < 0.01;与mock + NC-shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组比较,cP < 0.011 (单因素方差分析,LSD-t检验) A:吸光度;chrysophanol:p-EGFR磷酸化抑制剂。
实验结果显示,mock + shGALNT2组和mock + shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组细胞凋亡率低于mock组,mock + NC-shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组细胞凋亡率高于mock组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。mock + shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组细胞凋亡率高于mock + shGALNT2组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。mock + shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组细胞凋亡率低于mock + NC-shGALNT2 + chrysophanol组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01),见
图3. 各组细胞凋亡流式细胞检测图
实验结果显示,mock组、mock + shGALNT2组、mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组的GALNT2、EGF、EGFR、p-EGFR相对表达量比较,差异均有统计学意义(F = 775.7, 107.9, 78.58, 255.8, P < 0.05)。mock + shGALNT2组、mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol 组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组EGF和p-EGFR蛋白相对表达量高于mock组,GALNT2和EGFR蛋白表达量低于mock组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组和mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组GALNT2蛋白相对表达高于mock + shGALNT2组,差异有统计学意义(P < 0.001)。mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组EGF、EGFR、p-EGFR蛋白相对表达量高于mock + shGALNT2组,但差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05)。mock + shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组EGFR蛋白相对表达量高于mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组,EGF、p-EGFR蛋白相对表达量低于mock + NC-shGALNT2 + Chrysophanol组,差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.01)。见
DR是DM的主要眼部并发症,是世界范围内视力损害和失明的主要原因
图5. A-D为蛋白相对表达量统计图
GALNT2是White等在1995年首次从人胎盘中纯化出的糖基转移酶
研究表明,GALNT2可通过调节EGFR的活性,进而调控疾病的进展。Wu YM等
综上所述,本研究结果表明,在高糖环境下,HRCECs内敲低GALNT2的作用与EGFR磷酸化抑制剂的作用效果一致,敲低GALNT2基因后EGFR磷酸化同样被阻止或抑制。因此我们推测,在高糖条件下,敲低的GALNT2可以通过介导p-EGFR可以提高HRCECs细胞的增殖能力,减少HRCECs细胞的凋亡,以期为DR的临床治疗提供新的思路与靶点。
内蒙古自治区自然科学基金(编号:2021LHMS08064)。
*通讯作者。