Induction of apoptotic cell death in human endothelial cells treated with snake venom: implication of intracellular reactive oxygen species and protective effects of glutathione and superoxide dismutases.

Human vascular endothelial cells play a pivotal role in atherosclerotic changes but are resistant to apoptotic inducers such as Fas ligand and it has been difficult to induce apoptosis. We developed an experimental model for the apoptosis in the endothelial cells by using snake venom treatment. Snake venom was found to generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the endothelial cells, which leads to apoptosis as judged by electron microscopy as well as by DNA cleavage. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) accelerated the apoptosis, indicating intracellular glutathione and superoxide levels play a critical role. Pretreatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or phorbol ester (TPA), which increases the Mn-SOD level, prevented the apoptosis. These data suggest that intracellular ROS enhances apoptosis whereas several anti-oxidants are protective in human endothelial cells. The induction of apoptosis by ROS of endothelial cells may be related to initiation of atherosclerotic changes.