Zinc inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis in peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Zinc (Zn) plays an important role in influencing many types of apoptosis. However, its function in apoptosis in peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) remains unknown. Here, we studied the effects of Zn on high glucose (HG)-induced apoptosis in rat PMCs (RPMCs) and examined the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that Zn supplementation inhibited HG-induced RPMC apoptosis significantly, by attenuating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inhibiting HG-induced sFasR and sFasL over-expression, caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation, and inhibiting release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol. Further analysis revealed that Zn supplementation facilitated cell survival through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway and MAPK/ERK pathways. These results indicate that Zn can inhibit apoptosis in HG-induced RPMCs by several independent mechanisms, including an indirect antioxidative effect and probably by inhibition of caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation.