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Caspase 8 gene expression is highly reduced in atherosclerotic model cells: Effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein

molecular-biology
epigenetics

Abstract

Background and Aim. Apoptosis is one of the programmed cell death pathways. Cysteine protease, Caspase 8 (CASP8), starts apoptosis signaling through the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) activates apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Ox-LDL is a crucial risk factor that prompts apoptosis in VECs, which ultimately promoted development of atherosclerosis (AS). We proposed to investigate gene expression of CASP8 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) after ox-LDL stimulation.

Methods. We examined CASP8 gene expression level in HUVECs after treatment with ox-LDL in the current research. We made measurements with dye OYBR green utilizing the real-time PCR (qPCR) method.

Results. When we compared HUVECs without treatment of ox-LDL, expression of CASP8 was statistically significantly down-regulated (P<0.05) in HUVECs stimulated with ox-LDL. In addition, we supported our gene expression results with permutation ANOVA analysis.

Conclusion. Ox-LDL may affect the expression of CASP8, therefore, the apoptosis signaling pathway in VECs. Excessive down-regulation in gene expression of CASP8 in HUVECs stimulated by ox-LDL may show a potential role of CASP8 in EC apoptosis for AS.

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