Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, p53 and ROS in the association of apoptosis and senescence in vascular endothelial cells

Previously, we found that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) participated in apoptosis signaling of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Here, to explore whether PC-PLC is involved in the association of apoptosis and senescence in VECs, we analyzed p53 expression and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in young and senescent VECs before and after inhibiting PC-PLC activity. The results showed that suppressing PC-PLC inhibited apoptosis and the elevation of p53 expression induced by apoptosis in young cells, but not in senescent cells, and that inhibiting PC-PLC depressed intracellular ROS levels both in young and senescent cells. The data suggested that PC-PLC was involved in the association of apoptosis and senescence. Its function might be closely related to the level of p53 in VECs.