Author(s): Easton Eddie, Gabe Matthews
Mentor(s): Jennifer Meyer
Institution UTech
Diabetes is a common chronic condition that can lead to serious complications, such as diabetic kidney disease. When glucose levels rise, it triggers an increase in NADPH Oxidase (NOX) expression, which in turn promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and accelerates cellular proliferation. Pterostilbene, known for its antioxidant properties, has been shown to effectively reduce oxidative stress in various cell types. This study aims to investigate the NOX pathways in endothelial cells under hyperglycemic conditions and evaluate the potential of pterostilbene to mitigate oxidative stress. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are cultured in high-glucose media for 24 to 48 hours, with two concentrations of pterostilbene (5 µM and 10 µM). Prior to cell lysis, the cells undergo serum starvation of fetal bovine serum for 48 hours. To assess oxidative stress, we use a ROS Detection Cell-Based assay to measure superoxide levels, and a Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances (TBARS) assay to evaluate lipid peroxidation. Additionally, a western blot analysis is performed to measure NOX protein expression under different culture conditions. The goal of this research is to explore the potential of pterostilbene as a therapeutic approach to reduce oxidative stress in endothelial cells exposed to hyperglycemia.