Ascorbate uptake by microvascular endothelial cells of rat skeletal muscle

In several systems, exogenous ascorbate (reduced vitamin C) has been shown to protect against microvascular injury induced by reactive oxygen species. Since skeletal muscle is relatively resistant to oxidative injury, it is possible that under physiological conditions endogenous ascorbate in the muscle microvasculature affords such protection. To examine the ability of microvascular endothelium to accumulate ascorbate, we aimed (1) to develop an in vitro model of microvascular endothelial cells derived from rat hindlimb skeletal muscles and (2) to investigate the uptake and steady-state concentration of ascorbate in these cells.

Microvascular cells were enzymatically dissociated, isolated on a density gradient, and grown in serum-supplemented medium. After passaging, they were tested for formation of tube-like structures, coagulation factor VIII antigen expression, Griffonia simplicifolia lectin I-isolectin B4 binding, and acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake. Concentrations of reduced ascorbate were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Transport activity was assessed on the basis of the initial rate [14C]ascorbate uptake.

The cultured cells tested positively for factor VIII antigen expression, lectin binding, LDL uptake, and tube formation. Although these cells did not synthesize ascorbate de novo, they accumulated reduced vitamin C when it was added to the culture medium. The initial rate of [14C]ascorbate uptake was 0.9 mumol/g cell protein 10 min when cells were incubated with 10 microM of the radiolabeled vitamin. This uptake was Na+-dependent and was blocked by the organic anion transport inhibitor sulfinpyrazone, but was not acutely affected by glucose. Following incubation with a physiological concentration of vitamin C (100 microM L-ascorbate), cells accumulated a high concentration of ascorbate within 6 h (approximately 16 mM at steady-state). Steady-state cellular ascorbate concentration was also dependent on extracellular Na+ and sensitive to sulfinpyrazone.

Microvascular cells derived from rat hindlimb muscles demonstrated endothelial characteristics. These cells accumulated reduced vitamin C by means of Na+-dependent ascorbate transporters, which are distinct from hexose carriers. The high endothelial ascorbate concentration at steady-state is consistent with the role of ascorbate as a major antioxidant in the skeletal muscle microvasculature.