High Glucose Induces Human Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Through a Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase–Regulated Cyclooxygenase-2 Pathway

Objectives— Diabetes mellitus causes endothelial dysfunction. The precise molecular mechanisms by which hyperglycemia causes apoptosis in endothelial cells are not yet well understood. The aim of this study was to explore the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the possible involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in high glucose (HG)–induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods and Results— For...