Hyperhomocysteinemia potentiates diabetes-impaired EDHF-induced vascular relaxation: Role of insufficient hydrogen sulfide.

UNLABELLED

Insufficient hydrogen sulfide (HS) has been implicated in Type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-related cardiovascular complications. We investigated the role of HS in T2DM and HHcy-induced endothelial dysfunction in small mesenteric artery (SMA) of db/db mice fed a high methionine (HM) diet. HM diet (8 weeks) induced HHcy in both T2DM db/db mice and non-diabetic db/+ mice (total plasma Hcy: 48.4 and 31.3 µM, respectively), and aggravated the impaired endothelium-derived hyperpolarization factor (EDHF)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh), determined by the presence of eNOS inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and prostacyclin (PGI) inhibitor indomethacin (INDO), in SMA from db/db mice but not that from db/+ mice. A non-selective Ca-active potassium channel (K) opener NS309 rescued T2DM/HHcy-impaired EDHF-mediated vascular relaxation to ACh. EDHF-induced relaxation to ACh was inhibited by a non-selective K blocker TEA and intermediate-conductance K blocker (IK) Tram-34, but not by small-conductance K (SK) blocker Apamin. HHcy potentiated the reduction of free sulfide, HS and cystathionine γ-lyase protein, which converts L-cysteine to HS, in SMA of db/db mice. Importantly, a stable HS donor DATS diminished the enhanced O production in SMAs and lung endothelial cells of T2DM/HHcy mice. Antioxidant PEG-SOD and DATS improved T2DM/HHcy impaired relaxation to ACh. Moreover, HHcy increased hyperglycemia-induced IK tyrosine nitration in human micro-vascular endothelial cells. EDHF-induced vascular relaxation to L-cysteine was not altered, whereas such relaxation to NaHS was potentiated by HHcy in SMA of db/db mice which was abolished by ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker Glycolamide but not by K blockers.

CONCLUSIONS

Intermediate HHcy potentiated HS reduction via CSE-downregulation in microvasculature of T2DM mice. HS is justified as an EDHF. Insufficient HS impaired EDHF-induced vascular relaxation via oxidative stress and IK inactivation in T2DM/HHcy mice. HS therapy may be beneficial for prevention and treatment of micro-vascular complications in patients with T2DM and HHcy.