Abstract: [Abstract]   Objective   To investigate effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) modified protein on production of nitric oxide (NO) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods   HUVECs were co-incubated with AGE-HSA, HSA for 24h at different concentrations. Nitric oxide production and activity of nitric oxide synthase in supernatant were measured by NO and NOS assay kits. The activity of SOD and contents of MDA were determined by SOD and MDA assay kits. Results  1 The contents of NO and activity of NOS in AGEs group were significantly lower than those in HSA group and in a concentration-dependent manner (P <0.05). 2 The activity of SOD was significantly lower than that in HSA group and in concentration – dependent manner (P <0.05). The concentration of MDA was significantly higher than that in HSA group and in concentration–dependent manner (P <0.05). 3 The concentrations of NO in supernatant were positively associated with the activity of NOS and SOD, respectively (P <0.01). The concentrations of NO in supernatant were negatively associated with the contents of MDA (P <0.01). The activity of NOS was positively associated with the activity of SOD (P <0.01). The activity of NOS was negatively associated with the contents of MDA (P <0.01). Conclusion   The oxidative damage of AGEs induced by the HUVECs may play an important role in the decrease of NO in the HUVECs.

Key words: endothelial cells, umbilical veins, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, 丙二醛