Sulodexide increases mRNA expression of glutathione-related genes in human umbilical endothelial cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation.

Introduction: Sulodexide (SDX), a heparinoid used to treat vascular diseases, exerts anti-ischemic properties. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Induction of glutathione (GSH)-dependent genes protects against ischemia. Here, we investigated the effect of SDX on GSH-associated gene expression in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) using an ischemia model.

Methods: The transcriptional expression of GSH-related genes (, , , and ) in HUVECs treated without/with SDX (0.5 LRU/ml) under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) condition for 1-6 h was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: and were strongly up-regulated by SDX in HUVECs in the first 2 h of OGD. and mRNA expression levels were significantly increased during any time interval in ischemic HUVECs treated with SDX. Furthermore, incubation of HUVECs with SDX in OGD for 1-4 h resulted in enhanced expression of

Conclusions: Our studies provide the first evidence that SDX activates GSH-related genes in OGD-injured HUVECs.