Genetic deletion of p66 Shc adaptor protein prevents hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress

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Abstract
Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and loss of endothelial NO bioavailability are key features of vascular disease in diabetes mellitus. The p66 Shc adaptor protein controls cellular responses to oxidative stress. Mice lacking p66 Shc (p66 Shc−/− ) have increased resistance to ROS and prolonged life span. The present work was designed to investigate hyperglycemia-associated changes in endothelial function in a model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus p66 Shc−/− mouse. p66 Shc−/− and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with citrate buffer (control) or made diabetic by an i.p. injection of 200 mg of streptozotocin per kg of body weight. Streptozotocin-treated p66 Shc−/− and WT mice showed a similar increase in blood glucose. However, significant differences arose with respect to endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. WT diabetic mice displayed marked impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations, increased peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) generation, nitrotyrosine expression, and lipid peroxidation as measured in the aortic tissue. In contrast, p66 Shc−/− diabetic mice did not develop these high-glucose-mediated abnormalities. Furthermore, protein expression of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase 1 and endothelial NO synthase were up-regulated in p66 Shc−/− but not in WT mice. We report that p66 Shc−/− mice are resistant to hyperglycemia-induced, ROS-dependent endothelial dysfunction. These data suggest that p66 Shc adaptor protein is part of a signal transduction pathway relevant to hyperglycemia vascular damage and, hence, may represent a novel therapeutic target against diabetic vascular complications.