Activated protein C induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis mediated by glycogen synthase kinase-3β.

This study investigated the relationship between antiapoptotic activities induced by activated protein C and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In this study, it was observed that activated protein C elicited a rise in glucose-regulated protein 78 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β and inhibited apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide. Calcium inhibition did not alter the antiapoptotic effect of activated protein C. The antiapoptotic efficiency of activated protein C was reduced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells following treatment with glycogen synthase kinase-3β-siRNA. In summary, activated protein C induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis mediated by glycogen synthase kinase-3β.