Reactive oxygen species are implicated in altering magnesium homeostasis in endothelial cells exposed to high glucose.

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin (TRPM)7 is important in maintaining the intracellular homeostasis of magnesium (Mg), which is instrumental for vital cellular functions. Since the upregulation of TRPM7 has been proposed as a marker of endothelial dysfunction, we evaluated the effects of high glucose, which markedly impacts endothelial performance, on TRPM7 and intracellular Mg homeostasis in human macrovascular endothelial cells. We show that glucose-induced free radicals increase the amounts of TRPM7 as well as total intracellular magnesium. On the contrary, the highly selective Mg transporter MagT1 is not modulated by high glucose, hydrogen peroxide and low extracellular magnesium. We conclude that in endothelial cells high glucose alters Mg homeostasis through the upregulation of TRPM7.