The GTPase ARF6 Controls ROS Production to Mediate Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

High reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and enhanced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation are observed in numerous cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms by which hormones such as angiotensin II (Ang II) acts to promote these cellular responses remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that the ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6), a molecular switch that coordinates intracellular signaling events can be activated by the Ang II receptor (AT₁R). Whether this small GTP-binding protein controls the signaling events leading to ROS production and therefore Ang II-dependent VSMC proliferation, remains however unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in rat aortic VSMC, Ang II stimulation led to the subsequent activation of ARF6 and Rac1, a key regulator of NADPH oxidase activity. Using RNA interference, we showed that ARF6 is essential for ROS generation since in conditions where this GTPase was knocked down, Ang II could no longer promote superoxide anion production. In addition to regulating Rac1 activity, ARF6 also controlled expression of the NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox 1) as well as the ability of the EGFR to become transactivated. Finally, ARF6 also controlled MAPK (Erk1/2, p38 and Jnk) activation, a key pathway of VSMC proliferation. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Ang II promotes activation of ARF6 to controls ROS production by regulating Rac1 activation and Nox1 expression. In turn, increased ROS acts to activate the MAPK pathway. These signaling events represent a new molecular mechanism by which Ang II can promote proliferation of VSMC.     

番茄红素对血管平滑肌细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

目的:VSMCs增殖是动脉粥样硬化的主要病理过程之一.本研究通过观察番茄红素对人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)增殖和凋亡的影响,并探讨与Toll样受体4(TLR-4)有关的信号通路相关分子机制,旨在为番茄红素治疗动脉粥样硬化提供理论基础.方法:番茄红素处理体外培养的VSMC,分别应用MTT及流式细胞术分析处理后的VSMC增殖及凋亡情况;采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot检测处理后VSMC的TLR-4及骨髓分化分子88 (MyD88)表达水平的变化;ELISA检测番茄红素对VSMC肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)及白细胞介素6 (IL-6)分泌量的影响.结果:番茄红素处理后VSMC细胞增殖速度降低,凋亡增加;番茄红素处理后VSMC内TLR-4及MyD88的表达降低,TNF-α及IL-6分泌减少.结论:番茄红素可抑制VSMC生长增殖;促进凋亡,从而发挥治疗动脉粥样硬化的作用,其机制可能与TLR-4及MyD88表达降低、TNF-α及IL-6分泌减少有关.     

Impaired Glutathione Redox System Paradoxically Suppresses Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Remodeling

Background

Angiotensin II (AII) plays a central role in vascular remodeling via oxidative stress. However, the interaction between AII and reduced glutathione (GSH) redox status in cardiovascular remodeling remains unknown.

Methods

In vivo: The cuff-induced vascular injury model was applied to Sprague Dawley rats. Then we administered saline or a GSH inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 30 mmol/L in drinking water) for a week, subsequently administered 4 more weeks by osmotic pump with saline or AII (200 ng/kg/minute) to the rats. In vitro: Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was measured to determine DNA synthesis in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Results

BSO reduced whole blood GSH levels. Systolic blood pressure was increased up to 215±4 mmHg by AII at 4 weeks (p<0.01), which was not affected by BSO. Superoxide production in vascular wall was increased by AII and BSO alone, and was markedly enhanced by AII+BSO. The left ventricular weight to body weight ratio was significantly increased in AII and AII+BSO as compared to controls (2.52±0.08, 2.50±0.09 and 2.10±0.07 mg/g respectively, p<0.05). Surprisingly, the co-treatment of BSO totally abolished these morphological changes. Although the vascular circumferential wall stress was well compensated in AII, significantly increased in AII+BSO. The anti-single-stranded DNA staining revealed increasing apoptotic cells in the neointima of injured arteries in BSO groups. BrdU incorporation in cultured VSMCs with AII was increased dose-dependently. Furthermore it was totally abolished by BSO and was reversed by GSH monoethyl ester.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that a vast oxidative stress in impaired GSH redox system totally abolished AII-induced vascular, not cardiac remodeling via enhancement of apoptosis in the neointima and suppression of cell growth in the media. The drastic suppression of remodeling may result in fragile vasculature intolerable to mechanical stress by AII.     

Potassium Depletion and Regulation of Angiotensin II Receptors in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

Mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells were grown in culture media containing high, normal, or low concentrations of potassium to study the effects on angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor regulation. Cell growth was similar among cells grown in the different culture media. Cells grown in high potassium media (K=5.8 mEq/L) had an equilibrium dissociation constant, K_d, of 1.59 ± 0.2 nM, whereas those grown in normal potassium media (K=4.1 mEq/L) had a K_d of 1.79 ± 0.2 nM and those grown in a low potassium media (K=2.9 mEq/L) had a K_d of 1.19 ± 0.12 nM (not significantly different, NS). Binding capacity of smooth muscle cells grown in high potassium media was 81 ± 16.7 fmol/mg prot, 95.1 ± 12.4 fmol/mg prot in those grown in normal potassium media and those grown in low potassium media 86.4 ± 24.1 fmol/mg prot (NS). Binding of radiolabelled Ang II was reduced by approximately 70% in cells exposed to unlabelled Ang II for 30 or 60 minutes. However, this effect of exposure to Ang II to reduce subsequent binding of Ang II was identical in cells grown in high and low potassium medium. Therefore, we were unable to identify a direct effect of low potassium to induce changes in Ang II receptor binding affinity or binding capacity. Previously observed changes in these Ang II binding parameters in potassium-depleted rats was probably a consequence of other factors which were simultaneously altered by potassium deficiency.     

Different Effects of Angiotensin II and Angiotensin-(1-7) on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration

Background

Angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang-(1-7) are two of the bioactive peptides of the rennin-angiotensin system. Ang II is involved in the development of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, while Ang-(1-7) shows cardiovascular protection in contrast to Ang II.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we investigated effects of Ang II and Ang-(1-7) on vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration, which are critical in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Treatment with Ang II resulted in an increase of SMC proliferation, whereas Ang-(1-7) alone had no effects. However, preincubation with Ang-(1-7) inhibited Ang II-induced SMC proliferation. Ang II promoted SMC migration, and this effect was abolished by pretreatment with Ang-(1-7). The stimulatory effects of Ang II on SMC proliferation and migration were blocked by the Ang II receptor antagonist lorsartan, while the inhibitory effects of Ang-(1-7) were abolished by the Ang-(1-7) receptor antagonist A-799. Ang II treatment caused activation of ERK1/2 mediated signaling, and this was inhibited by preincubation of SMCs with Ang-(1-7).

Conclusion

These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) inhibits Ang II-induced SMC proliferation and migration, at least in part, through negative modulation of Ang II induced ERK1/2 activity.     

510.6nm激光照射对兔血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

本文用５１０．６ｎｍ 波长激光以功率密度１、５、１０ ｍ Ｗ／ｃｍ ２ 和能量密度２、４、６Ｊ／ｃｍ ２ 照射体外培养的兔血管平滑肌细胞（ＳＭＣ）,通过３Ｈ－ ＴｄＲ掺入率和细胞生长曲线测定细胞增殖率。结果显示,上述激光照射量均能抑制细胞增殖率,其中以１０ｍ Ｗ／ｃｍ ２ 组的作用最为显著     

Inhibition of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation by Gentiana lutea Root Extracts

Gentiana lutea belonging to the Gentianaceae family of flowering plants are routinely used in traditional Serbian medicine for their beneficial gastro-intestinal and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study was to determine whether aqueous root extracts of Gentiana lutea consisting of gentiopicroside, gentisin, bellidifolin-8-O-glucoside, demethylbellidifolin-8-O-glucoside, isovitexin, swertiamarin and amarogentin prevents proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells in response to PDGF-BB. Cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were performed based on alamar blue assay and propidium iodide labeling respectively. In primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs), PDGF-BB (20 ng/ml) induced a two-fold increase in cell proliferation which was significantly blocked by the root extract (1 mg/ml). The root extract also prevented the S-phase entry of synchronized cells in response to PDGF. Furthermore, PDGF-BB induced ERK1/2 activation and consequent increase in cellular nitric oxide (NO) levels were also blocked by the extract. These effects of extract were due to blockade of PDGF-BB induced expression of iNOS, cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Docking analysis of the extract components on MEK1, the upstream ERK1/2 activating kinase using AutoDock4, indicated a likely binding of isovitexin to the inhibitor binding site of MEK1. Experiments performed with purified isovitexin demonstrated that it successfully blocks PDGF-induced ERK1/2 activation and proliferation of RASMCs in cell culture. Thus, Gentiana lutea can provide novel candidates for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Cell-Shape Regulation of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play an important role in vascular remodeling. Heterogeneity and phenotypic changes in SMCs are usually accompanied by a morphological difference, i.e., elongated/spindle-like versus spread-out or epithelioid/rhomboid cell shapes. However, it is not known whether the cell shape directly regulates SMC proliferation, and what the underlying mechanisms are. In this study, microgrooves and micropatterned matrix islands were used to engineer the cell shape and investigate the associated biophysical and biological mechanisms. Compared to spread-out SMCs on nonpatterned surfaces, SMCs on micropatterned surfaces demonstrated elongated morphology, significantly lower cell and nucleus shape indexes, less spreading, a lower proliferation rate, and a similar response (but to a lesser extent) to platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, and mechanical stretching. DNA microarray profiling revealed a lower expression of neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) in elongated SMCs. Knocking down NOR-1 suppressed DNA synthesis in SMCs, suggesting that NOR-1 is a mediator of cell elongation effects. Regulation of DNA synthesis in SMCs by the cell shape alone and a decrease in DNA synthesis in the case of small cell spreading area were achieved by micropatterning SMCs on matrix islands of different shapes and spreading areas. Changes in the cell shape also affected the nucleus shape, whereas variations in the cell spreading area modulated the nucleus volume, indicating a possible link between nucleus morphology (both shape and volume) and DNA synthesis. The findings of this investigation provide insight into cell shape effects on cell structure and proliferation, and have direct implications for vascular pathophysiology.     

Decorin Mimic Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Proliferation and Migration

Over the past 10 years, the number of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures performed in the United States increased by 33%; however, restenosis, which inhibits complete functional recovery of the vessel wall, complicates this procedure. A wide range of anti-restenotic therapeutics have been developed, although many elicit non-specific effects that compromise vessel healing. Drawing inspiration from biologically-relevant molecules, our lab developed a mimic of the natural proteoglycan decorin, termed DS-SILY, which can mask exposed collagen and thereby effectively decrease platelet activation, thus contributing to suppression of vascular intimal hyperplasia. Here, we characterize the effects of DS-SILY on both proliferative and quiescent human SMCs to evaluate the potential impact of DS-SILY-SMC interaction on restenosis, and further characterize in vivo platelet interactions. DS-SILY decreased proliferative SMC proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro in a concentration dependent manner as compared to untreated controls. The addition of DS-SILY to in vitro SMC cultures decreased SMC migration and protein synthesis by 95% and 37%, respectively. Furthermore, DS-SILY decreased platelet activation, as well as reduced neointimal hyperplasia by 60%, in vivo using Ossabaw swine. These results indicate that DS-SILY demonstrates multiple biological activities that may all synergistically contribute to an improved treatment paradigm for balloon angioplasty.     

miR-599 Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation and Migration by Targeting TGFB2

Aberrant proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease, restenosis and atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding and endogenous RNAs that play critical roles in VSMCs function. In this study, we showed that PDGF-bb, as a stimulant, promoted VSMCs proliferation and suppressed the expression of miR-599. Moreover, overexpression of miR-599 inhibited VSMCs proliferation and also suppressed the PCNA and ki-67 expression. In addition, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of miR-599 repressed the VSMCs migration. We also showed that miR-599 inhibited type I collagen, type V collagen and proteoglycan expression. Furthermore, we identified TGFb2 as a direct target gene of miR-599 in VSMCs. Overexpression of TGFb2 reversed miR-599-induced inhibition of VSMCs proliferation and type I collagen, type V collagen and proteoglycan expression. In conclusion, our findings suggest miR-599 plays a crucial role in controlling VSMCs proliferation and matrix gene expression by regulating TGFb2 expression.     

Simultaneous Increases in Proliferation and Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Accelerate Diabetic Mouse Venous Atherosclerosis

Aims

This study was designed to demonstrate simultaneous increases in proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) leading to accelerated vein graft remodeling and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Vein grafts were performed in non-diabetic and diabetic mice. The cultured quiescent VSMCs were subjected to mechanical stretch stress (SS) and/or advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs). Harvested vein grafts and treated VSMCs were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation and SM-α-actin expression.

Results

Significantly thicker vessel walls and greater increases in proliferation and apoptosis were observed in diabetic vein grafts than those in non-diabetic. Both SS and AGEs were found to induce different activation of three members of MAPKs and simultaneous increases in proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs, and combined treatment with both had a synergistic effect. VSMCs with strong SM-α-actin expression represented more activated JNKs or p38MAPK, and cell apoptosis, while the cells with weak SM-α-actin expression demonstrated preferential activation of ERKs and cell proliferation. In contrast, inhibition of MAPKs signals triggered significant decreases in VSMC proliferation, and apoptosis. Treatment of the cells with RNA interference of receptor of AGEs (RAGE) also resulted in significant decreases in both proliferation and apoptosis.

Conclusions

Increased pressure-induced SS triggers simultaneous increases in proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs in the vein grafts leading to vein arterializations, which can be synergistically accelerated by high glucose-induced AGEs resulting in vein graft atherosclerosis. Either SS or AGEs and their combination induce simultaneous increases in proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs via different activation of three members of MAPKs resulting from different VSMC subtypes classified by SM-α-actin expression levels.     

Inhibitory Effect of Diabetes on Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle After Balloon Injury in Rat Aorta

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes oncell proliferation in rat aortic intima-media, as wellas on local gene expression of transforming growthfactor-β1 (TGF-β1) was studied. TGF-β1 mRNAwas measured by solution hybridization and TGF-β1 protein by ELISA. Proliferation was measuredby bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into DNA twodays after balloon injury. All BrdU-labelled cellsobserved were smooth muscle cells. After a diabetesduration of 2 and 4 weeks, labelled cells weresignificantly fewer compared with controls. Circulatinglevels of total TGF-β1 were lowered in ratswith 2 weeks diabetes. Although the balloon injuryprocedure by itself stimulated the gene expressionof TGF-β1, no significant difference in TGF-β1mRNA content between diabetic and control ratsafter injury was found. In conclusion: vascularsmooth muscle proliferation in vivo is inhibited bythe diabetic state in this model of insulin deficientdiabetes and this inhibition is not related to animpaired local expression of TGF-β1.     

Effects of a Component of Green Tea on the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The effects of a component of green tea on the proliferation of smooth muscle cells were measured in terms of [³H]thymidine uptake. When green tea tannin mixture was added to the medium of cultured smooth muscle cells, it suppressed the proliferation of the cells dose-dependently. Similarly to the effects of the green tea tannin mixture, (–)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, its main ingredient, had an inhibitory effect on smooth muscle cell proliferation at a low concentration. (–)-Epicatechin 3-O-gallate was also an effective component. Among four types of gallate-free tannin, (–)-epigallocatechin, (–)-epicatechin, and (+)-catechin showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, caffeine and theanine were found to have no such action.     

新型大豆异黄酮磺酸酯抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖活性研究

为了寻找对血管平滑肌细胞异常增殖有较强抑制作用的化合物,本文用MMT法考察新型大豆苷元磺酸酯体外抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖活性.结果表明:该大豆苷元磺酸酯对血管平滑肌细胞增殖在10-7 mol/L时有抑制作用(P＜0.05),该浓度下的抑制率为56.06％,与先导化合物大豆苷元相比活性提高约1000倍.构效关系研究表明,大豆苷元经苯磺酸酯修饰,改变分子的空间结构、分子的可极化率从26.51增加到54.12,改变了药物的电荷分布,更有利于药物通过细胞膜到达靶标和与靶标更精确作用而导致药物药理作用大大增强.药理实验与构效关系研究初步表明,该大豆苷元磺酸酯有进一步研究价值.     

Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression by cAMP in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell mitogen which stimulates angiogenesis. VEGF is regulated by multiple factors such as hypoxia, phorbol esters, and growth factors. However, data concerning the expression of VEGF in the different vascular cell types and its regulation by cAMP are not available. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of adenylate cyclase activation on VEGF mRNA expression in rat vascular cells in primary culture. Basal VEGF expression is greater in smooth muscle cells than in endothelial cells and fibroblasts. A 4-h treatment with forskolin (10⁻⁵M) induced a 2-fold stimulation of VEGF mRNA expression in smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, but, in contrast, did not affect VEGF expression in endothelial cells. In smooth muscle cells, a pharmacologically induced increase in intracellular cAMP levels using iloprost or isoprenaline led to a rise in VEGF mRNA expression comparable to that induced by forskolin. Adenosine, which increases cAMP levels in smooth muscle cells, also increases VEGF expression. Moreover, the 2.2-fold stimulation of VEGF expression by adenosine was enhanced following a cotreatment with cobalt chloride (a hypoxia miming agent). The observed additive effect (4.3-fold increase) suggests that these two factors, hypoxia and adenosine, regulate VEGF mRNA expression in smooth muscle cells by independent mechanisms.     

细胞代数和密度影响血管平滑肌细胞表型重塑和收缩反应性的机制

探讨细胞代数和密度对血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC)表型重塑能力的影响及机制,观察血清饥饿诱导的不同代数和密度的VSMC骨架的组构特征及收缩反应性,检测细胞骨架中收缩蛋白的含量和比例变化。结果发现,低代数(3代)、高密度的VSMC经血清饥饿诱导后易于形成束状、极性排列的应力纤维,乙酰胆碱(Ach)刺激可产生明显的收缩反应。Western印迹显示,3代高密度VSMC中,平滑肌22α(SM22α)在F-肌动蛋白中的组成比例及其在F-/G-肌动蛋白的含量之比明显高于8代细胞。结果提示,SM22α在F-肌动蛋白中的分布比例可能决定了应力纤维的排布方式,是细胞获得收缩性的主要调节因素,在VSMC表型重塑过程中具有重要意义。     

Biophysical Induction of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Podosomes

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and matrix degradation occurs with intimal hyperplasia associated with atherosclerosis, vascular injury, and restenosis. One proposed mechanism by which VSMCs degrade matrix is through the use of podosomes, transient actin-based structures that are thought to play a role in extracellular matrix degradation by creating localized sites of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion. To date, podosomes in VSMCs have largely been studied by stimulating cells with phorbol esters, such as phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), however little is known about the physiological cues that drive podosome formation. We present the first evidence that physiological, physical stimuli mimicking cues present within the microenvironment of diseased arteries can induce podosome formation in VSMCs. Both microtopographical cues and imposed pressure mimicking stage II hypertension induce podosome formation in A7R5 rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Moreover, wounding using a scratch assay induces podosomes at the leading edge of VSMCs. Notably the effect of each of these biophysical stimuli on podosome stimulation can be inhibited using a Src inhibitor. Together, these data indicate that physical cues can induce podosome formation in VSMCs.     

SO_2对胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞钾离子通道的影响

为了探讨二氧化硫(SO2)引起大鼠血管平滑肌的降压机制,采用急性酶分离法分离大鼠单个血管平滑肌细胞,运用全细胞膜片钳技术记录平滑肌细胞外向钾电流(IKv),观察SO2及其衍生物对平滑肌细胞膜钾电流的作用,从离子通道角度研究SO2对血压的影响。结果发现:SO2衍生物可使外向IKv显著增大,10μmol/L SO2衍生物可使电流-电压曲线(I-V曲线)显著上移,即增大IKv,且呈一定的电压依赖性,并且,SO2衍生物可使IKv增大呈现出剂量-效应关系。当使用5 mmol/L 4-氨基吡啶(4-AP)抑制IKv后,加入10μmol/L SO2衍生物,IKv有一定程度增加。TEA能抑制SO2衍生物对IKv的增大效应。10μmol/L SO2衍生物可使IKv的激活曲线显著向超极化方向移动,但并不影响其斜率因子。说明SO2衍生物作用于血管平滑肌细胞,可引起外向钾电流幅度增大,使钾电流提前激活,这是SO2及其衍生物降压的作用机制之一;TEA、4-AP对SO2衍生物引起的血管平滑肌细胞钾电流的增大具有拮抗作用。