Salvianolic acid B inhibited high glucose-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition through a down-regulation of β-catenin

Objective To explore the role of salvianolic acid B during phenotypic transition of endothelial cells induced by high glucose and elucidate the possible mechanism of β-catenin pathway.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were divided into 3 groups of control (DMEM),high glucose (DMEM containing 139 mmol/L glucose) and high mannitol (DMEM containing isotonic mannitol).After culturing for 24/48h,protein expressions of CD31,VE-cadherin,α-SMA,collagen I and β-catenin in endothelial cells were detected by Western blot (WB).XAV-939 (1 μM),a specific inhibitor of β-catenin,was utilized for cellular interference.Also salvianolic acid B group (high glucose plus 60 μg/mL salvianolic acid B) was designated.Results In high glucose environment,the expressions of CD31 and VE-cadherin were down-regulated while those of α-SMA and collagen I up-regulated.High glucose stimulated the cellular expression of β-catenin.After a selective inhibition of β-catenin,the expressions of CD31 and VE-cadherin were up-regulated while the expressions of α-SMA and collagen I down-regulated.Salvianolic acid B down-regulated the expression of β-catenin,up-regulated the expressions of CD31 and VE-cadherin and lowered the expressions of α-SMA and collagen I under high glucose.Conclusion High glucose can up-regulate β-catenin and induce endothelial-mesenchymal transition in endothelial cells.And salvianolic acid B ameliorates phenotypic transition of endothelial cells through inhibiting the expression of β-catenin under high glucose.