Cathepsin L stimulates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells: Potential role in atherosclerosis

  • Authors:
    • Dang-Heng Wei
    • Xiao-Ying Jia
    • Yang-Hui Liu
    • Feng-Xia Guo
    • Zhi-Han Tang
    • Xiao-Hong Li
    • Zuo Wang
    • Lu-Shan Liu
    • Gui-Xue Wang
    • Zhi-Sheng Jian
    • Chang-Geng Ruan
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 3, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1201
  • Pages: 400-406
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Abstract

The activation of endothelial cells by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) with subsequent increases in endothelial permeability occurs in the early stage of atherosclerosis. Cathepsin L (CATL) is one of the cysteine proteases and has been implicated in advanced atherosclerotic lesions and plaque instability. This study aimed to explore the role of CATL in ox-LDL-induced early atherosclerotic events and to delineate the underlying mechanism. Results showed that ox-LDL upregulated CATL protein levels and activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) in a concentration-dependent manner and stimulated EC autophagy and apoptosis and increased EC monolayer permeability. Concomitantly, VE-cadherin expression was decreased. When ECs were pretreated with a CATL inhibitor, ox-LDL-induced autophagy was inhibited while apoptosis was further increased. In addition, the VE-cadherin protein level was increased, and the EC monolayer permeability was reduced. Taken together, the present study showed that the upregulated expression and activation of CATL induced by ox-LDL, increased EC autophagy and antagonized EC apoptosis, which partly neutralized the effect of increased EC monolayer permeability mediated by the downregulation of VE-cadherin. Thus, the proatherogenic effect of CATL was partly neutralized by inducing autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis in early stages of atherosclerosis.
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February 2013
Volume 31 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Wei D, Jia X, Liu Y, Guo F, Tang Z, Li X, Wang Z, Liu L, Wang G, Jian Z, Jian Z, et al: Cathepsin L stimulates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells: Potential role in atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Med 31: 400-406, 2013
APA
Wei, D., Jia, X., Liu, Y., Guo, F., Tang, Z., Li, X. ... Ruan, C. (2013). Cathepsin L stimulates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells: Potential role in atherosclerosis. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 31, 400-406. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1201
MLA
Wei, D., Jia, X., Liu, Y., Guo, F., Tang, Z., Li, X., Wang, Z., Liu, L., Wang, G., Jian, Z., Ruan, C."Cathepsin L stimulates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells: Potential role in atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 31.2 (2013): 400-406.
Chicago
Wei, D., Jia, X., Liu, Y., Guo, F., Tang, Z., Li, X., Wang, Z., Liu, L., Wang, G., Jian, Z., Ruan, C."Cathepsin L stimulates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells: Potential role in atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 31, no. 2 (2013): 400-406. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2012.1201