Disruption of endothelial adherens junctions by high glucose is mediated by protein kinase C-β-dependent vascular endothelial cadherin tyrosine phosphorylation.

Background: Hyperglycemia has been recognized as a primary factor in endothelial barrier dysfunction and in the development of micro- and macrovascular diseases associated with diabetes, but the underlying biochemical mechanisms remain elusive. Tyrosine phosphorylation of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cad) leads to the disruption of endothelial adherens junctions and increases the transendothelial migration (TEM) of leukocytes.

Methods: VE-cad tyrosine phosphorylation, adherens junction integrity and TEM of monocytes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with high-concentration glucose were evaluated. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in induction of endothelial cells adherence junction disruption by exposure of HUVECs to high concentration of glucose was explored.

Results: The treatment of HUVEC with high-concentration glucose increased VE-cad tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas mannitol or 3-O-methyl-D-glucose had no effect. In addition, high-concentration glucose increased the dissociation of the VE-cad-β-catenin complex, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and the TEM of monocytes. These alterations were accompanied by the activation of endothelial PKC and increased phosphorylation of ERK and myosin light chain (MLC). High-concentration glucose-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cad was attenuated by: 1- the inhibition of PKC-β by overexpression of dominant-negative PKC-β 2- inhibition of MLC phosphorylation by overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable dominant-negative form of MLC, 3- the inhibition of actin polymerization by cytochalasin D and 4- the treatment of HUVECs with forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase).

Conclusions: Our findings show that the high-concentration glucose-induced disruption of endothelial adherens junctions is mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cad through PKC-β and MLC phosphorylation.