Fig. 2

Fructose is absorbed and metabolized by VECs and increases cell viability. a, SVEC4-10 cells were incubated with 5 mM [U-13C] fructose in glucose-free medium for 8 h, and the intracellular metabolites were analyzed by LC/MS. Carbon isotope traces are shown, with blue circles indicating 13C-labeled carbon in intermediate metabolites. b, the percentage of corresponding isotope (e.g. pyruvate M + 3) in all isotopes (e.g. pyruvate: M + 0, M + 1, M + 2, M + 3) was calculated and corrected for natural isotopic abundance. c, Relative ATP levels of SVEC4-10 and HUVEC cells cultured in different media for 8 h. d, Relative ATP levels of SVEC4-10 and HUVEC cells cultured in various fructose concentrations for 8 h. e, Fructose concentration and consumption rates of SVEC4-10 cells in double sugar medium (Fru 5 mM + Glc 5 mM) and fructose medium (Fru 5 mM). f, Glucose concentration and consumption rates of SVEC4-10 cells in double sugar medium (Fru 5 mM + Glc 5 mM) and glucose medium (Glc 5 mM). g, Extracellular lactate concentrations and production rates of SVEC4-10 cultured in different media for 8 h. h, Western blot analysis of fructose metabolism-related protein expression levels in SVEC4-10 and HUVEC cells. i, Protein and mRNA expression levels of Glut5 in HUVEC cells overexpressing Glut5. j, Viability of HUVEC cells overexpressing Glut5 cultured in different media for 48 h. k, Relative ATP levels of HUVEC cells overexpressing Glut5 cultured in different media for 8 h. l, Effect of Glut5 overexpression on fructose consumption in HUVEC cells cultured in fructose medium. m-p, CCK-8 analysis of the viability of SVEC4-10 and HUVEC cells cultured for 48 h in medium containing 20 mM fructose (m, n) or glucose (o, p) in the presence of 2, 5-AM (3 mM), 2-DG (2 mM), and KHK inhibitor (1 μM), respectively. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD; ns, non-significant; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. n = 3