Cultured endothelial cells produce heparinlike inhibitor of smooth muscle cell growth

Using cultured cells from bovine and rat aortas, we have examined the possibility that endothelial cells might regulate the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from confluent bovine aortic endothelial cells inhibited the proliferation of growth-arrested smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from exponential endothelial cells, and from exponential or confluent smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, did not inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Conditioned medium from confluent endothelial cells did not inhibit the growth of endothelial cells or fibroblasts. In addition to the apparent specificity of both the producer and target cell, the inhibitory activity was heat stable and not affected by proteases. It was sensitive flavobacterium heparinase but not to hyaluronidase or chondroitin sulfate ABC lyase. It thus appears to be a heparinlike substance. Two other lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, a crude isolate of glycosaminoglycans (TCA-soluble, ethanol-precipitable material) from endothelial cell-conditioned medium reconstituted in 20 percent serum inhibited smooth muscle cell growth; glycosaminoglycans isolated from unconditioned medium (i.e., 0.4 percent serum) had no effect on smooth muscle cell growth. No inhibition was seen if the glycosaminoglycan preparation was treated with heparinase. Second, exogenous heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate B (dermatan sulfate), chondroitin sulfate ABC, and hyaluronic acid were added to 20 percent serum and tested for their ability to inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Heparin inhibited growth at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml. Other glycosaminoglycans had no effect at doses up to 10 μg/ml. Anticoagulant and non- anticoagulant heparin were equally effective at inhibiting smooth muscle cell growth, as they were in vivo following endothelial injury (Clowes and Karnovsk. Nature (Lond.). 265:625-626, 1977; Guyton et al. Circ. Res. 46:625-634, 1980), and in vitro following exposure of smooth muscle cells to platelet extract (Hoover et al. Circ. Res. 47:578-583, 1980). We suggest that vascular endothelial cells may secrete a heparinlike substance in vivo which may regulate the growth of underlying smooth muscle cells.     

Endothelin expression in the uterus

The endothelins (ETs) comprise a family of 21 amino acid peptides, ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3, first demonstrated as products of vascular endothelium. Subsequent work showed that they are also found in non-endothelial cells from a variety of tissues such as breast, parathyroid and adrenal gland. At first, the ETs were recognized for their pressor effects. However, ET administration in vivo initially caused hypotension at low concentrations by triggering the paracrine release of endothelial-derived vasodilators. The ETs exert powerful contractile actions on myometrium and other types of smooth muscle and are mitogenic, or co-mitogenic for fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle and other cells. Demonstration of extravascular ET in endometrium has revealed a powerful vasoconstrictor which might act on the spiral arterioles to effect a powerful and sustained contraction of vascular smooth muscle. ETs might also contribute to the process of endometrial repair. In addition, the ETs appear to play a fundamental role in the control of uterine function in pregnancy. Effects on myometrial contractility have been implicated in the mechanisms governing the onset of normal and pre-term labour, and the peptides are likely to be key determinants of placental blood flow by binding to vascular smooth muscle receptors in the placenta.     

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type II receptor is required for BMP-mediated growth arrest and differentiation in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals regulate the growth and differentiation of diverse lineages. The association of mutations in the BMP type II receptor (BMPRII) with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension suggests an important role of this receptor in vascular remodeling. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells lacking BMPRII can transduce BMP signals using ActRIIa (Activin type II receptor). We investigated whether or not BMP signaling via the two receptors leads to differential effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. BMP4, but not BMP7, inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-activated proliferation in wild-type pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, whereas neither ligand inhibited the growth of BMPRII-deficient cells. Adenoviral gene transfer of BMPRII enabled BMP4, as well as BMP7, to inhibit proliferation in BMPRII-deficient cells. BMP-mediated growth inhibition was also reconstituted by the BMPRII short isoform, lacking the C-terminal domain present in the long form. BMP4, but not BMP7, induced the expression of osteoblast markers in wild-type cells, whereas neither ligand induced these markers in BMPRII-deficient cells. Overexpression of short or long forms of BMPRII in BMPRII-deficient cells enabled BMP4 and BMP7 to induce osteogenic differentiation. Although signaling via BMPRII or ActRIIa transiently activated SMAD1/5/8, only BMPRII signaling led to persistent SMAD1/5/8 activation and sustained increases in Id1 mRNA and protein expression. Pharmacologic blockade of BMP type I receptor function within 24 h after BMP stimulation abrogated differentiation. These data suggest that sustained BMP pathway activation, such as that mediated by BMPRII, is necessary for growth and differentiation control in vascular smooth muscle.     

In vivo chemotactic properties and spatial expression of PDGF in developing mesenteric microvascular networks

The recruitment of perivascular cells to developing microvessels is a key component of microvessel assembly. Whereas platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling is critical for this process during embryonic development, its role from the postnatal stages through adulthood remains unclear. We investigated the potential role of PDGF signaling during microvessel assembly by measuring in vivo the migration of labeled fibroblasts to PDGF in mesenteric connective tissue and by examining PDGF-B and PDGF receptor-beta (PGDFR-beta) expression in microvascular networks during normal maturation. PDGF-B homodimer (PDGF-BB; 30 ng/ml) application elicited a significant (P < 0.05) increase (7.8 +/- 4.1 cells) in labeled fibroblasts within 100 microm of the source micropipette after 2 h. PDGF-A homodimer (30 ng/ml) application and control solution did not elicit directed migration. PDGF-B was expressed in microvessel endothelium and smooth muscle, whereas PDGFR-beta was expressed in endothelium, smooth muscle, and interstitial fibroblasts. Given that PDGF-BB elicits fibroblast migration in the mesentery and that PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta are expressed in a pattern that indicates paracrine signaling from microvessels to the interstitium, the results are consistent with a role for PDGF-B in perivascular cell recruitment to microvessels.     

Apolipoprotein E binding to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 inhibits cell migration via activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A

Smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation contribute to neointimal hyperplasia and vascular stenosis after endothelial denudation. Previous studies revealed that apolipoprotein E (apoE) is an effective inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor-directed smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation and that the anti-migratory function is mediated via apoE binding to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). This study was undertaken to identify the intracellular pathway by which apoE binding to LRP-1 results in inhibition of smooth muscle cell migration. The results showed that apoE increased intracellular cAMP levels 3-fold after 5 min, and the increase was sustained for more than 1 h. As a consequence, apoE also increased protein kinase A (PKA) activity in smooth muscle cells. Importantly, suppression of PKA activity with a cell-permeable peptide inhibitor of PKA abolished the inhibitory effect of apoE on smooth muscle cell migration. These results indicated that apoE inhibition of smooth muscle cell migration is mediated via the activation of cAMP-dependent PKA. Additional experiments revealed that apoE also inhibited fibroblasts migration toward platelet-derived growth factor by a similar mechanism of cAMP-dependent PKA activation. It is noteworthy that apoE failed to increase cAMP levels or inhibit migration of LRP-1-negative mouse embryonic fibroblasts and LRP-1-deficient smooth muscle cells. Taken together, these findings established the mechanism by which apoE inhibits cell migration, i.e. via cAMP-dependent protein kinase A activation as a consequence of its binding to LRP-1.     

Arachidonic acid release by cPLA2 may be causally related to NO-induced apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells

Apoptosis has been shown to occur in vascular smooth muscle cells during the development of atherosclerosis. In order to investigate the possible role of arachidonic acid during apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle, we induced apoptosis in cultured rat aortal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) by treatment with either UV (ultraviolet) radiation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or NO donor drugs (sodium nitroprusside, or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D-penicillamine, SNAP). Apoptosis was detected by either DNA fragmentation analysis or by TUNEL analysis. UV radiation, TNF-alpha and NO were observed to stimulate apoptosis in the cells as well as to stimulate arachidonate release from the cells. NO also increased levels of cPLA2 in the cells, which is an enzyme that is frequently activated in cells that release arachidonate. These agents stimulated arachidonate release somewhat earlier than they stimulated apoptosis in the cells. The inhibition of cPLA2 by arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3) also led to the inhibition of arachidonate release from the cells as well as the inhibition of nitroprusside stimulated apoptosis. Arachidonic acid itself could induce apoptosis in the cultured cells. These observations provide evidence that arachidonate may be involved in apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle.     

3-morpholinosydnonimine participates in the attenuation of neointima formation via inhibition of annexin A2-mediated vascular smooth muscle cell migration

3-Morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) affects vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, processes essential for atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism by which SIN-1 exerts these effects has not been elucidated. We used 2-DE followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS to identify responses in protein expression to SIN-1 in rat aortic smooth muscle. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB increased cell migration and proliferation in rat aortic smooth muscle cells, and subsequent SIN-1 treatment inhibited it. Administration of SIN-1 in vivo attenuated neointima formation in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. Proteomic analysis showed that glutathione peroxidase and 40S ribosomal protein S12 were differentially expressed in aortic strips exposed to SIN-1. Expression of annexin A2 was decreased by SIN-1. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced cell migration was increased and inhibited in rat aortic smooth muscle cells with overexpression and knockdown of annexin A2 gene, respectively. The expression of annexin A2 was increased in vascular neointima compared with the intact control, which was inhibited by SIN-1 treatment. These results demonstrate that SIN-1 may attenuate vascular neointima formation by inhibiting annexin A2-mediated migration. Therefore, annexin A2 may be a potential target for therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis.     

Effects of isolation and culture on prostaglandin synthesis by porcine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Freshly isolated neonatal porcine aortic tissue (smooth muscle with or without endothelium present) produced approximately 30 ng/mg wet tissue of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha (the stable hydrolysis product from prostacyclin) and approximately 15 ng/mg of prostaglandin E2, as measured by radioimmunoassay after 24 h incubation in culture medium. Primary cultures of porcine endothelial and smooth muscle cells (isolated by enzymic digestion of aortic tissue) exhibited the same pattern of prostaglandin production, but absolute values were greater than for fresh tissue, particularly in the case of endothelium. Subcultures of endothelium produced smaller amounts of prostaglandins, although the pattern remained similar. In contrast, subcultures of smooth muscle cells produced a greater total amount of prostaglandins than did primary cultures, and the main product was prostaglandin E2. Experiments with [14C] prostaglandin H2 or [14C]arachidonic acid confirmed that aortic tissue, cultured endothelium, and primary cultures or aortic smooth muscle cells synthesized prostacyclin, and demonstrated that subcultured smooth muscle cells enzymically isomerised prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin E2. Kinetic studies showed that prostaglandin production by cultured vascular cells was transiently increased by subculture or changing the growth medium, and that production per cell declined with increasing cell density. The change in pattern of prostaglandin production during culture was shown to be due to a rapid decline in the rate of prostacyclin production (which apparently began immediately after tissue isolation), together with a more gradual rise in prostaglandin E2 production. These results indicate that the amounts and ratios of prostaglandins produced by vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells are greatly affected by the conditions used to isolate and culture the cells; vascular cells in vivo may similarly alter their pattern of prostaglandin production in response to local changes in their environment.     

Polarized secretion of IGF-I and IGF-I binding protein activity by cultured aortic endothelial cells

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) secretion by the vascular endothelium has been proposed to play a role in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Because vascular smooth muscle cells are adjacent to the abluminal surface of the endothelium, we tested the hypothesis that secretion of IGF-I by endothelial cells is polarized. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were cultured on permeable membranes and IGF-I measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal secretion exceeded apical secretion by a ratio of 2.3 ± 0.2:1.0 (P < 0.05). We also identified 35 kDa IGF-I binding protein activity that is preferentially secreted on the basal surface of endothelial cells. We conclude that both IGF-I and IGF-I binding protein activity secretion by endothelial cells is polarized towards the basal surface of the endothelium. A polarized secretion mechanism for IGF-I may be of importance in the normal growth and differentiation of the vasculature as well as in the development of vascular pathology. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A theoretical model of nitric oxide transport in arterioles: frequency- vs. amplitude-dependent control of cGMP formation

Nitric oxide (NO) plays many important physiological roles, including the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone. In response to hemodynamic or agonist stimuli, endothelial cells produce NO, which can diffuse to smooth muscle where it activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), leading to cGMP formation and smooth muscle relaxation. The close proximity of red blood cells suggests, however, that a significant amount of NO released will be scavenged by blood, and thus the issue of bioavailability of endothelium-derived NO to smooth muscle has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. We formulated a mathematical model for NO transport in an arteriole to test the hypothesis that transient, burst-like NO production can facilitate efficient NO delivery to smooth muscle and reduce NO scavenging by blood. The model simulations predict that 1) the endothelium can maintain a physiologically significant amount of NO in smooth muscle despite the presence of NO scavengers such as hemoglobin and myoglobin; 2) under certain conditions, transient NO release presents a more efficient way for activating sGC and it can increase cGMP formation severalfold; and 3) frequency-rather than amplitude-dependent control of cGMP formation is possible. This suggests that it is the frequency of NO bursts and perhaps the frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations in endothelial cells that may limit cGMP formation and regulate vascular tone. The proposed hypothesis suggests a new functional role for Ca(2+) oscillations in endothelial cells. Further experimentation is needed to test whether and under what conditions in silico predictions occur in vivo.     

Calcium signaling and oxidant stress in the vasculature

Recent evidence suggests that oxidant stress plays a major role in several aspects of vascular biology. Oxygen free radicals are implicated as important factors in signaling mechanisms leading to vascular pathologies such as postischemic reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis. The role of intracellular Ca(2+) in these signaling events is an emerging area of vascular research that is providing insights into the mechanisms mediating these complex physiological processes. This review explores sources of free radicals in the vasculature, as well as effects of free radicals on Ca(2+) signaling in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In the endothelium, superoxides enhance and peroxides attenuate agonist-stimulated Ca(2+) responses, suggesting differential signaling mechanisms depending on radical species. In smooth muscle cells, both superoxides and peroxides disrupt the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, leading to both short- and long-term effects on smooth muscle Ca(2+) handling. Because vascular Ca(2+) signaling is altered by oxidant stress in ischemia-related disease states, understanding these pathways may lead to new strategies for preventing or treating arterial disease.     

Simvastatin stimulates VEGF release via p44/p42 MAP kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells

It has been shown that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) modulate vascular smooth muscle cell functions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of simvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release, and the underlying mechanism, in a rat aortic smooth muscle cell line, A10 cells. Administration of simvastatin increased the VEGF level in rat plasma in vivo. In cultured cells, simvastatin significantly stimulated VEGF release in a dose-dependent manner. Simvastatin induced the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase but not p38 MAP kinase or SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). PD98059 and U-0126, inhibitors of the upstream kinase that activates p44/p42 MAP kinase, significantly reduced the simvastatin-induced VEGF release in a dose-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase induced by simvastatin was reduced by PD98059 or U-0126. Moreover, a bolus injection of PD98059 truly suppressed the simvastatin-increased VEGF level in rat plasma in vivo. These results strongly suggest that p44/p42 MAP kinase plays a role at least partly in the simvastatin-stimulated VEGF release in vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Lysyl oxidase propeptide inhibits smooth muscle cell signaling and proliferation

Lysyl oxidase is required for the normal biosynthesis and maturation of collagen and elastin. It is expressed by vascular smooth muscle cells, and its increased expression has been previously found in atherosclerosis and in models of balloon angioplasty. The lysyl oxidase propeptide (LOX-PP) has more recently been found to have biological activity as a tumor suppressor, and it inhibits Erk1/2 Map kinase activation. We reasoned that LOX-PP may have functions in normal non-transformed cells. We, therefore, investigated its effects on smooth muscle cells, focusing on important biological processes mediated by Erk1/2-dependent signaling pathways including proliferation and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression. In addition, we investigated whether evidence for accumulation of LOX-PP could be found in vivo in a femoral artery injury model. Recombinant LOX-PP was expressed and purified, and was found to inhibit primary rat aorta smooth muscle cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by more than 50%. TNF-α-stimulated MMP-9 expression and Erk1/2 activation were both significantly inhibited by LOX-PP. Immunohistochemistry studies carried out with affinity purified anti-LOX-PP antibody showed that LOX-PP epitopes were expressed at elevated levels in vascular lesions of injured arteries. These novel data suggest that LOX-PP may provide a feedback control mechanism that serves to inhibit properties associated with the development of vascular pathology.     

热休克蛋白90对血小板源衍生因子诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的:研究热休克蛋白90(HSP90)对血小板衍生因子(Platelet derived growth factor,PDGF)诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响。方法:采用胶原酶消化法原代培养大鼠胸主动脉平滑肌细胞,应用脂质体细胞转染siRNA的方法抑制HSP90的表达,定量PCR和western blot的方法检测抑制效率。利用PDGF-bb诱导刺激平滑肌细胞增殖,CCK8法检测细胞增殖能力的变化,流式细胞术检测细胞生长周期的改变。结果:平滑肌细胞中转染HSP90的siRNA后,HSP90的mRNA和蛋白水平明显降低,分别为对照组的65.3%和57.6%(P0.05);PDGF-bb刺激明显促进平滑肌细胞生长,而降低HSP90水平显著影响PDGF-bb诱导的细胞增殖(P0.05);流式细胞术检测发现降低HSP90水平引起平滑肌细胞生长停滞,分布在细胞周期G1期的细胞比例明显增多(P0.05)。结论:HSP90通过调控平滑肌细胞的生长周期参与调节细胞增殖过程。     

An antifibrotic agent reduces blood pressure in established pulmonary hypertension in the rat

We have shown that administration of the antifibrotic agent cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline (cHyp) to rats at the onset of exposure to hypoxia prevents collagen accumulation in pulmonary arteries and the rise in pulmonary blood pressure. In this experiment, we tested whether cHyp is effective when administered after hypertension was already established. Rats were exposed to hypoxia (10% O2) for 21 days. Groups were hypoxic animals treated with cHyp (200 mg/kg sc twice daily) on days 10-21 (hypoxic cHyp) and saline-injected hypoxic animals (hypoxic). On day 21, we measured mean right ventricular pressure, hematocrit, collagen content of main and intrapulmonary arteries, and wall thickness of arterioles. Treatment reduced right ventricular pressure from 21 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 1 mmHg (P less than 0.05), hematocrit from 66 +/- 1 to 56 +/- 1% (P less than 0.05), hydroxyproline content of intrapulmonary arteries from 30 +/- 3 to 11 +/- 2 micrograms/vessel (P less than 0.05), and wall thickness from 27 +/- 3 to 16 +/- 2 microns (P less than 0.05). These results show that vascular collagen content is increased in established pulmonary hypertension and that cHyp treatment is effective in partially preventing the hemodynamic, structural, and biochemical changes if started after pulmonary hypertension is established. cHyp may also affect the rheological properties of blood.     

Functional Effects of FGF-13 on Human Lung Fibroblasts,Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells,and Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

We studied the effects of FGF-13 and FGF-2 on human lung fibroblasts, dermal microvascular endothelial cells, and aortic smooth muscle cells. FGF-13 induced cell growth of lung fibroblasts and aortic smooth muscle cells but had no effect on dermal vascular endothelial cells. FGF-2 induced cell growth in all the three cell types. FGF-13 and FGF-2 had little effect on IL-6 production by lung fibroblasts and aortic smooth muscle cells and substantially enhanced that induced by IL-1α. In contrast, FGF-13 and FGF-2 had little effect on IL-6 production by dermal vascular endothelial cells, either alone or in synergy with IL-1α.     

Nitric oxide--the endothelium-derived relaxing factor and its role in endothelial functions

Vascular endothelium plays a key role in the local regulation of vascular tone and vascular architecture by release of vasodilator and vasoconstrictor substances, as well as factors with pro-coagulant, anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, antibacterial properties, growth factors, chemokines, free radicals, etc. Release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, as well as vasoconstricting factors such as endothelin, superoxide and thromboxanes play an influential role in the maintenance and regulation of vascular tone and the corresponding peripheral vascular resistance. Under physiological conditions, the release of anticoagulant and smooth muscle relaxing factors exceeds the release of other substances. The first part of this review presents the functions of the endothelium itself, the nature of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, its production by NO synthases, mechanisms of its action via activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and production of cyclic 3'-5'-guanosine monophosphate. The resulting biological effects include vasodilatation, regulation of vessel wall structure, increased regional blood perfusion, lowering of systemic blood pressure, antithrombosis and antiatherosclerosis effects, which counteract the vascular actions of endogenous vasoconstrictor substances. Impaired endothelial function, either as a consequence of reduced production/release or increased inactivation of endothelium-derived vasodilators, as well as interactions of NO with angiotensin, reactive oxygen species and oxidized lipoproteins, has detrimental functional consequences and is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore the second part of this review assesses the pathophysiologic impact of the endothelium in examples of cardiovascular pathologies, e.g. endotheliopathies caused by increased angiotensin production, lipid peroxidation, ischemia/reperfusion or diabetes.