The Regulatory Role of Glucose Transporter 1 on the Function of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Under Ischemia-hypoxic Conditions
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ（med.sci）.2025.0309
- VernacularTitle:缺血缺氧环境下葡萄糖转运蛋白1对人脐静脉内皮细胞功能的调控作用
- Author:
Meiling LI
1
;
Siqi GAO
1
;
Zhefu LIU
2
;
Huanyan LIAO
1
;
Fanmao LIU
2
;
Wenhao XIA
2
;
Jun GUO
1
;
Yan LI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Cardiology， The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University， Guangzhou 510630， China
2. Department of Hypertension and Vascular Disease， The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University// NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation and Vascular Diseases， Guangzhou 510080， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
glucose transporter 1;
ischemia-hypoxic environment;
angiogenesis;
endothelial cells;
energy supply
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2025;46(3):444-455
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Abstract： ObjectiveThe study aims to explore the effects and regulatory roles of glucose transporter 1 （GLUT1） on the proliferation， migration， adhesion， and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） under ischemia-hypoxic conditions. MethodsIn vitro experiments were conducted to subject HUVECs to an ischemia-hypoxic-mimicking environment （1% O2， 5% CO2， 94% N2）. The biological characteristics of HUVECs under normoxic and ischemia-hypoxic conditions were compared by assessing cell viability， proliferation capacity， and examining the expression changes of GLUT1， HIF-1α， and VEGFA proteins under ischemia-hypoxia using Western blot technology. Further， GLUT1 was overexpressed using plasmid transfection and the proliferation， migration， adhesion， and angiogenic capabilities of HUVECs were evaluated through scratch assays， cell adhesion assays， and tube formation assays. Mitochondrial morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy，and oxygen consumption rate （OCR） was detected by Seahorse metabolic analyzer to evaluate mitochondrial function. ResultsCompared with normoxic conditions， the ischemia-hypoxic environment significantly inhibited the proliferation， cell viability， migration， and adhesion capabilities of HUVECs and impaired their angiogenic potential. The expression levels of GLUT1， HIF-1α and VEGFA proteins were also markedly reduced. However， when GLUT1 expression was upregulated， the migration， adhesion， and angiogenic capabilities of HUVECs were significantly improved， and the protein expression levels of HIF-1α， VEGFA and VEGFR were increased. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that ischemic-hypoxia leads to mitochondrial swelling and matrix damage， while GLUT1 overexpression significantly alleviates mitochondrial morphology abnormalities. OCR results suggest that GLUT1 overexpression may enhance oxidative phosphorylation of endothelial cells in ischemic-hypoxic environments to improve energy metabolism. These results suggest that GLUT1 may influence the function and angiogenic potential of HUVECs by regulating glucose metabolism and energy supply. ConclusionsThis study reveals the significant regulatory role of GLUT1 in the function of HUVECs under ischemia-hypoxic conditions， potentially through modulating cellular energy metabolism and signal transduction pathways， thereby affecting cell proliferation， migration， adhesion， and angiogenesis. These findings provide a new perspective on the role of GLUT1 in cardiovascular diseases and may offer potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
