AP-1在AngⅡ正反馈调节其前体基因表达中的作用

血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)可诱导其前体基因在血管平滑肌细胞(vascularsmoothmusclecells,VSMC)中进行表达,其作用机制与促进转录激活蛋白-1(activatingprotein-1,AP-1)的基因调控区中存在的AP-1位点结合有关.为进一步明确AngⅡ调节AP-1结合活性的分子机制,用放线菌酮(cycloheximide,CHX)作为c-Jun磷酸化抑制剂,经DNA-蛋白质相互作用和蛋白质印迹实验,探讨AngⅡ对AP-1结合活性的影响并探讨其分子机制.结果表明,受AngⅡ刺激的VSMC,其核蛋白中AP-1的组成亚基之一c-Jun水平明显升高.免疫细胞化学染色显示,在被AngⅡ处理的细胞中,c-Jun主要定位于细胞核,胞浆中几乎检测不出该转录激活蛋白的存在.用丝氨酸磷酸化抗体检测证实,AngⅡ可诱导c-Jun磷酸化.电泳迁移率改变分析(electrophoreticmobilityshiftassay,EMSA)显示,c-Jun的磷酸化水平与AP-1结合血管紧张素原基因顺式元件的活性,和对该基因的转录激活作用呈正相关关系,CHX通过阻断c-Jun磷酸化抑制AngⅡ诱导的AP-1结合活性,但是不影响c-Jun的表达水平.上述结果提示,AP-1的磷酸化活化是AngⅡ正反馈调节其前体基因表达的重要机制之一,首次发现CHX是c-Jun磷酸化的抑制剂.     

Krüppel样因子5介导血管平滑肌细胞的增殖和迁移

Krüppel样因子5（krüppel-like factor 5,KLF5）是KLF家族中与胚胎发育、细胞增殖和肿瘤发生密切相关的转录调节因子。为观察KLF5在体外培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（vascularsmooth muscle cells,VSMCs）增殖和迁移活性中的作用,通过构建KLF5腺病毒表达载体并感染细胞以过表达KLF5或用特异性siRNA敲低KLF5,用MTT、流式细胞术以及免疫细胞化学染色和伤口愈合实验检测其对VSMCs增殖和迁移活性的影响。结果发现,KLF5过表达可加速细胞由G0/G1期向S期转变,促进细胞增殖和迁移;反之,敲低KLF5后细胞增殖活性明显低于转染无关序列NS-siRNA对照组细胞,G0/G1期细胞数所占比例增多,S期细胞数所占比例减少,VSMCs迁移活性也明显降低。结果表明KLF5可参与介导VSMCs的增殖和迁移。     

全反式维甲酸通过抑制ERK和激活p38 MAPK信号诱导KLF4基因表达

全反式维甲酸（all-trans retinoic acid, ATRA）诱导细胞分化与上调转录因子Krüppel样因子4 (KLF4)表达有关, 但目前对ATRA诱导KLF4表达的分子机制尚不清楚．为了研究ATRA在血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）中诱导KLF4表达的分子机制,本 研究观察ATRA对视黄酸受体α (retinoic acid receptor α, RARα)和KLF4表达的影响及RARα介导ATRA诱导KLF4表达所依 赖的信号转导途径．实验结果显示,ATRA可显著诱导RARα和KLF4表达,用RARα拮抗剂Ro 41 5253阻断ATRA与受体相互作 用后,ATRA诱导的KLF4表达受到显著抑制．用p38 MAPK、ERK和Akt抑制剂阻断ATRA与RARα相互作用所激活的信号转导途径 后,发现阻断p38 MAPK信号途径显著抑制ATRA诱导的KLF4表达,抑制ERK信号途径使ATRA对KLF4表达的诱导作用明显增强, 抑制Akt信号途径不影响KLF4基因表达．表明RARα介导ATRA对KLF4表达的诱导作用,ATRA通过抑制ERK和激活p38 MAPK信号 途径发挥其对KLF4基因表达的诱导作用．     

JAK-STAT参与血管平滑肌细胞血管紧张素原和心钠素基因的转录激活

为探讨Janus蛋白酪氨酸激酶2-转导及转录激活因子5（JAK2-STAT5）途径在介导血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）血管舒-缩肽表达调节的作用及分子机制, 以Ang Ⅱ为诱发因素刺激培养的大鼠VSMC, 用免疫共沉淀、Western印迹分析和激光共聚焦显微镜观察STAT5磷酸化及其核转位, 用电泳迁移率改变分析（EMSA）确定STAT5与血管活性肽基因调控区顺式调控元件的结合活性. 结果显示, STAT5磷酸化水平分别于Ang Ⅱ刺激10 min和12 h出现两个高峰, 增加的磷酸化STAT5主要分布在细胞核内. Ang Ⅱ诱导的STAT5活化与核转位可被JAK2的特异抑制剂AG490所抑制. EMSA结果显示, 用Ang Ⅱ刺激VSMC后, 核蛋白与含有血管紧张素原基因启动子STAT5识别序列的探针结合活性显著升高,而核蛋白与含有心钠素（ANF）基因启动子STAT5识别序列的探针结合活性则呈下降趋势, 核蛋白与两种探针的结合活性均可被JAK2抑制剂AG490所消除, 并且加入抗STAT5抗体后均可出现滞后的超迁移带. 结果提示, Ang Ⅱ通过激活JAK2-STAT5介导信号向胞核内传递, STAT5与相应的顺式元件结合是启动血管紧张素原和心钠素基因表达所必需的转录调控机制之一.     

血管舒-缩肽在血管平滑肌细胞中的表达与调控

为探讨血管舒 缩肽表达的调控机制及血管平滑肌细胞 (VSMC)在该网络平衡中的地位 ,以血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngⅡ )为诱发因素刺激培养的大鼠VSMC ,用RT PCR和放射免疫分析观察内皮素 1(ET 1)、AngⅡ、心钠素 (ANF)和肾上腺髓质素 (ADM)在VSMC中的表达与释放及相互关系 ,用电泳迁移率改变分析 (EMSA)和染色质免疫沉淀 (ChIP)分析揭示其分子机制 .在被AngⅡ处理的VSMC中 ,4种血管活性肽的表达活性均升高 ,其中缩血管肽基因表达被迅速诱导 ,而舒血管肽则是先降后升 .但刺激前后舒 缩血管肽之间的平衡关系无明显改变 .放免分析证实 ,AngⅡ可程度不同地促进 4种血管活性肽合成 ,使胞内 4种活性肽水平升高 ;对培养液中 4种活性肽进行检测的结果显示 ,AngⅡ可促进ET 1、AngⅡ释放 ,抑制舒血管肽释放 ,尤以ANF的胞内水平明显高于胞外 .EMSA分析显示 ,在AngⅡ诱导 4种肽表达的同时 ,与细胞增殖有关的转录调控因子转录激活蛋白(AP 1)与 4种活性肽基因启动子的结合活性明显增强 .ChIP结果表明 ,AP 1在染色质靶位点的募集与血管活性肽基因的表达上调有直接关系 .结果提示 ,AP 1与特异DNA顺式作用元件的相互作用参与了血管活性肽的转录激活 .VSMC不仅作为它们的效应器 ,而且还通过调节AP 1与靶基因中的共有顺式元件——     

AngⅡ对血管平滑肌细胞PDGF受体表达的影响

目的:研究血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对血管平滑肌细胞血小板源生长因子(PDGF)受体表达的影响.方法:采用大鼠主动脉球囊内皮剥脱术制备主动脉再狭窄模型,观察形态学变化;放免法测定主动脉AngⅡ含量;免疫印迹法测定主动脉PDGF-β受体含量,并与假手术组相比较.培养大鼠主动脉血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC),AngⅡ刺激正常培养的与洛沙坦预处理过的VSMC 6 h,测定PDGF-β受体含量.结果:球囊内皮剥脱术后14 d,主动脉中层VSMC大量增殖,内膜显著增厚,AngⅡ含量显著升高(P＜0.05),PDGF-β受体表达显著增强(P＜0.05).AngⅡ诱导VSMC PDGF-β受体表达显著增强(P＜0.01),AngⅡ受体拮抗剂洛沙坦完全抑制AngⅡ对PDGF-β受体上调的诱导作用.结论:AngⅡ可通过其Ⅰ型受体诱导血管平滑肌细胞PDGF受体上调,这可能是AngⅡ促VSMC发生增殖的一个重要机制.     

AP-1与STAT5相互作用协同调节血管紧张素原基因表达

为研究AP-1和STAT5协同调节血管紧张素原基因表达的作用机制,用凝胶电泳迁移率改变分析（EMSA）和染色质免疫沉淀分析（ChIP assay）检测血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的AP-1和STAT5的DNA结合活性;用凝胶超迁移分析和免疫共沉淀方法观察AP-1和STAT5的相互作用. 结果显示,AngⅡ可分别促进AP-1和STAT5与血管紧张素原基因调控区顺式元件的结合以及二者之间的相互作用;核蛋白与含AP-1结合位点的寡核苷酸探针结合形成的复合物可与抗c-Jun抗体和抗STAT5抗体形成超迁移电泳区带;而用抗c-Jun抗体也可从STAT5 染色质免疫沉淀复合物洗脱液中检测到AP-1的存在. 而且,AP-1和STAT5的相互作用程度及其二者与DNA的结合活性与血管紧张素原表达活性具有一致关系,该效应可被JAK2特异抑制剂AG490所抑制. 上述结果提示,与顺式元件结合的AP-1和STAT5通过相互作用而形成四元复合物协同调节血管紧张素原基因的表达,JAK2对该过程具有诱导活化作用.     

下调血管生成素样蛋白7表达对血管紧张素Ⅱ介导的血管平滑肌细胞炎症反应的影响

目的探讨RNA干扰血管生成素样蛋白7 （Angptl7）基因对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）炎症因子的影响及其作用机制。 方法体外培养人VSMC,分为常规F12K培养基培养（对照）和1 μg/mL AngII培养24 h。VSMC用AngⅡ（1 μg/mL）处理24 h后,采用siRNA-Angptl7和阴性对照siRNA-NC在Lipofectamine 2000介导下转染VSMC。RT-qPCR检测mRNA表达水平;Griess反应测定一氧化氮（NO）含量;蛋白免疫印记法检测相关蛋白的改变;酶联免疫吸附法检测VSMC中炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β （IL-1β）和IL-6水平。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验,两组间比较采用独立样本t检验。 结果与对照比较,1 μg/mL AngⅡ处理可促进VSMC中Angptl7 mRNA （0.97±0.06比3.05±0.21）和蛋白表达（1.01±0.12比1.61±0.14）,亦可促进VSMC中IL-1β[（45.21±8.10）比（126.17±11.77） pg/mL]、IL-6[（50.50±7.51）比（108.50±9.51）pg/mL]和TNF-α的表达[（60.77±9.58）比（185.67±17.35）pg/mL],差异有统计学意义（P均< 0.01）。与对照和转染siRNA-NC相比,转染siRNA-Angptl7下调Angptl7蛋白表达（0.99±0.12,0.98±0.12比0.44±0.14,P < 0.01）。与AngⅡ干预组相比,siRNA-Angptl7降低AngⅡ介导的VSMC炎症反应相关蛋白TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β的表达,核因子κB （NF-κB）/诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）/环氧化酶2 （COX-2）信号通路相关蛋白NF-κB、iNOS和COX-2表达及NO含量亦降低,差异有统计学意义（P均< 0.01）。与siRNA-NC相比,siRNA-Angptl7组AngⅡ诱导的VSMC炎症反应相关蛋白TNF-α （0.99±0.13比0.51±0.12）、IL-6 （1.00±0.12比0.38±0.05）和IL-1β的表达（0.99±0.14比0.48±0.11）,NF-κB （1.00±0.10比0.42±0.08）、iNOS （1.02±0.12比0.42±0.10）和COX-2表达（1.00±0.11比0.52±0.12）均降低,NO含量[（54.78±2.76）比（18.08±3.61）μmol/L]亦降低,差异有统计学意义（P均< 0.01）。 结论AngⅡ可通过Angptl7促进VSMC炎症反应,下调Angptl7蛋白表达可以抑制VSMC的炎症反应,其作用机制可能与抑制NF-κB/iNOS-COX-2信号通路有关。     

高血压大鼠心脏和血管MAPK磷酸酶-1表达的改变及对平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的和方法：比较自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）和对照（WKY）大鼠心脏和主动脉丝裂素活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶－1（MKP－1）及细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK－1）的表达,并观察用磷酸钙共沉淀方法转染MKP－1基因对血管紧张素Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）刺激平滑肌细胞（VSMC）^3H－胸腺叫啶（^3H-TdR)掺入的影响,以探讨MKP－1在细胞增殖中的调节作用。结果：①与WKY大鼠相比,SHR心脏和主动脉MKP－1呈低表达,分别降低53％和45％（P均＜0．01）;而SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1呈明显高表达（P均＜0．01）,SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1与MKP－1蛋白比值明显高于WKY。②AngⅡ 10^-7mol/L刺激VSMC增殖较对照组增加257％（P＜0．01）,转染野生型MKP－1基因细胞可使AngⅡ刺激的^3H-TdR掺入较未转染的细胞降低63％（P＜0．05）,转染突变型MKP－1基因和转染空载体的VSMC对AngⅡ的刺激与单纯AngⅡ组相比无明显抑制作用（P＞0．05）。结论：SHR心血管组织中促增殖肥大的ERK－1表达较其失活的MKP－1占优势,并且MKP－1可显著抑制AngⅡ的VSMC增殖。     

白藜芦醇对AngⅡ诱导的血管平滑肌细胞CaN的影响

目的：观察白藜芦醇（Res）对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）增殖及细胞中钙调蛋白（CaM）和钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）活性的影响,并探讨其机制。方法：体外培养兔主动脉VSMCs,用免疫细胞化学方法鉴定。建立AngⅡ诱导的VSMCs增殖模型。取生长良好的第4～8代VSMCs,随机分为对照组,AnsⅡ组（0．1μmol／L）,AngⅡ＋Res组（20,40,80,160）μmol／L。应用MTT法检测细胞增殖程度,考马斯亮兰法进行CaM定量,定磷法进行CaN活性测定。结果：成功培养兔VSMCs并传代,免疫细胞化学染色均呈阳性表达。AngⅡ组VSMCs的增殖程度、CaM和CaN活性较对照组增高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。AngⅡ＋Res组各组VSMCs的CaM和CaN活性较AngⅡ组显著下降（P〈0．01）。结论：在一定范围内,Res可降低AngⅡ诱导的VSMCs增殖程度,其机制可能与干预CaN依赖的信号转导途径有关。     

Rosiglitzone Suppresses Angiotensin II-Induced Production of KLF5 and Cell Proliferation in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Krüppel-like factor (KLF) 5, which initiates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, also participates in Angiotensin (Ang) II-induced vascular remodeling. The protective effect of rosiglitazone on vascular remodeling may be due to their impact on VSMC proliferation. However, the underlying mechanisms involved remain unclear. This study was designed to investigate whether the antiproliferation effects of rosiglitazone are mediated by regulating Ang II/KLF5 response. We found that, in aortas of Ang II-infused rats, vascular remodeling and KLF5 expression were markedly increased, and its target gene cyclin D1 was overexpressed. Co-treatment with rosiglitazone diminished these changes. In growth-arrested VSMCs, PPAR-γ agonists (rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2) dose-dependently inhibited Ang II-induced cell proliferation and expression of KLF5 and cyclin D1. Moreover, these effects were attenuated by the PPAR-γ antagonists GW9662, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and PPAR-γ specific siRNA. Furthermore, rosiglitazone inhibited Ang II-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) ζ and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and activation of early growth response protein (Egr). In conclusion, in Ang II-stimulated VSMCs, rosiglitazone might have an antiproliferative effect through mechanisms that include reducing KLF5 expression, and a crosstalk between PPAR-γ and PKCζ/ERK_1/2/Egr may be involved in. These findings not only provide a previously unrecognized mechanism by which PPAR-γ agonists inhibit VSMC proliferation, but also document a novel evidence for the beneficial vascular effect of PPAR-γ activation.     

Roscovitine inhibits ERK1/2 activation induced by angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle cells

Roscovitine is a potent CDK inhibitor often used as a biological tool in cell-cycle studies, but its working mechanism and real targets in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain unclear. In this study, we observed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by Ang II was abrogated by pretreating VSMCs with roscovitine for 15h. Pretreating VSMCs with roscovitine also inhibited Ang II-induced c-Jun expression and phosphorylation. We further demonstrated that roscovitine could suppress the DNA binding activity of c-Jun and activation of angiotensinogen promoter by Ang II. These results suggest that roscovitine represses Ang II-induced angiotensinogen expression by inhibiting activation of ERK1/2 and c-Jun.     

HIF1α-induced upregulation of KLF4 promotes migration of human vascular smooth muscle cells under hypoxia

Hypoxia-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) migration plays an important role in vascular remodeling and is implicated in vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. We previously observed the increased expression of krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in VSMCs under hypoxia. However, whether the upregulation of KLF4 participates in hypoxia-induced VSMCs migration is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that KLF4 was an important player in the process of VSMCs migration under hypoxia since interference of KLF4 by small interfering RNA mostly dampened hypoxia-induced migration of VSMCs. In addition, using luciferase reporter and ChIP assays, we confirmed two hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) binding elements (located at -150 to -163 and -3922 to -3932) in the upstream regulatory region of klf4 locus and identified KLF4 as a novel direct target gene of HIF1α. Our findings unveil a novel regulatory mechanism that involves HIF1α-induced upregulation of KLF4, which plays a vital role in VSMCs migration under hypoxia.     

Synthetic retinoid Am80 inhibits interaction of KLF5 with RARα through inducing KLF5 dephosphorylation mediated by the PI3K/Akt signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is known to physically interact with retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα). Here, we show that Am80 inhibited the interaction between KLF5 and RARα and this inhibitory effect was accompanied by the dephosphorylation of KLF5 in VSMCs. Treating VSMCs with LY294002, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, abrogated Am80-induced KLF5 dephosphorylation and reversed Am80-induced suppression of interaction between KLF5 and RARα, whereas treating vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with SB203580, the p38 kinase inhibitor, attenuated the interaction between KLF5 and RARα. Constitutively active p38 kinase MKK6b infection prevented the KLF5 dephosphorylation induced by Am80. In conclusion, Am80 induces KLF5 dephosphorylation by activating PI3K/Akt signaling, and inhibits KLF5 phosphorylation by blocking p38 signaling, subsequently leading to the suppression of interaction of KLF5 with RARα.

Structured summary

MINT-7013243: Klf5 (uniprotkb:Q66HP1) physically interacts (MI:0218) with RAR alpha (uniprotkb:Q9QWJ1) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)     

血管平滑肌细胞增殖与Cdk抑制蛋白p27的表达

ｐ２７蛋白是细胞周期素依赖性激酶（Ｃｄｋ）抑制蛋白家族中的一种,主要对外部促进或抑制细胞增殖的信号起反应。本研究应用流式细胞仪（ＦＣＭ）双标记的方法观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）、血管加压素（ＡＶＰ）和血小板源生长因子（ＰＤＧＦ）对血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣｓ）细胞周期百分比和ｐ２７蛋白表达量的影响。静止状态培养的ＶＳＭＣｓ加入ＡｎｇⅡ,ＡＶＰ,ＰＤＧＦＢＢ后,在不同时间收集细胞,用碘化丙啶（ＰＩ）标记细胞ＤＮＡ,以确定细胞所处的周期。用ｐ２７蛋白的单抗和标记了ＦＩＴＣ的二抗标记细胞,通过流式细胞仪测定被激发出的荧光量来确定细胞ｐ２７蛋白表达的相对量。结果显示,ＡｎｇⅡ刺激ＶＳＭＣｓ增生,其蛋白含量增加了４３６％（Ｐ＜００１）,但不抑制ｐ２７蛋白的表达;ＡＶＰ可轻度抑制ｐ２７的表达,有轻度促进ＶＳＭＣｓ增殖和增生的作用（Ｐ＜００５）;ＰＤＧＦ明显抑制ｐ２７的表达,引起细胞增殖。本研究结果提示,ｐ２７蛋白抑制ＶＳＭＣｓ通过Ｇ１期进入Ｓ期,是抑制ＶＳＭＣｓ增殖的重要调节因子。