Syndecan-4 is required for thrombin-induced migration and proliferation in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Thrombin is a mitogen and chemoattractant for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and may contribute to vascular lesion formation. We have previously shown that human SMCs, when stimulated with thrombin, release basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), causing phosphorylation of FGF receptor-1 (FGFR-1). Treatment with bFGF-neutralizing antibodies (anti-bFGF) or heparin inhibits thrombin-induced DNA synthesis. We concluded that thrombin may stimulate entry into the cell cycle via bFGF release and FGFR-1 activation. In the present study, we demonstrate a requirement for not only FGFR-1 but also syndecan-4, a transmembrane heparan-sulfate proteoglycan. Inhibition of syndecan-4 expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in reduced DNA synthesis by human SMCs after stimulation with thrombin (10 nmol/liter). Anti-bFGF antibody, which inhibits DNA synthesis in control cells, had no inhibitory effect when syndecan-4 expression was reduced by siRNA. Thrombin- or bFGF-induced SMC migration, determined in Boyden chamber assays, was reduced in cells treated with syndecan-4 or FGFR-1 siRNA or by anti-bFGF. Thrombin induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in a biphasic pattern. Although thrombin-mediated ERK phosphorylation at 5 min was not affected by syndecan-4 or FGFR-1 siRNA, ERK phosphorylation at later time points was reduced. We conclude that thrombin-released bFGF binds to syndecan-4 and FGFR-1, which is required for thrombin-induced mitogenesis and migration.     

Induction of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by selective activation of the thrombin receptor. Effect of heparin.

The synthetic peptide, SFLLRNPNDKYEPF, has been recently described as a peptide mimicking the new amino-terminus created by cleavage of the thrombin receptor, therefore acting as an agonist of the thrombin receptor. This peptide was a potent mitogen for rabbit arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) and exhibited the same activity as that of native alpha-thrombin. Both compounds stimulated the proliferation of growth-arrested SMCs with half-maximum mitogenic responses at 1 nM. NAPAP, a synthetic inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of thrombin, specifically inhibited thrombin-induced SMC growth (IC50 = 0.35 +/- 0.04 microM) but was without effect on the mitogenic effect of the agonist peptide. These results therefore demonstrate that the mitogenic effect of alpha-thrombin for SMCs is intimately linked to its esterolytic activity. Heparin, which inhibited fetal calf serum-induced SMC growth, was without effect on thrombin-induced SMC growth but strongly reduced the mitogenic effect of the agonist peptide (IC50 = 32 +/- 5 micrograms/ml). This effect was not related to the anti-coagulant activity of heparin but was highly dependent on molecular mass and on the global charge of the molecule and was also observed for other sulphated polysaccharides such as pentosan polysulphate.     

Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation prevents thrombin-induced mitogenesis, but not intracellular free calcium release, in vascular smooth muscle cells.

alpha-Thrombin, a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist, is mitogenic for neonatal vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells, but it also causes secretion of the tyrosine kinase-coupled receptor agonist platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). In order to determine the role of growth factors with tyrosine kinase-coupled receptors in thrombin's mitogenic signal transduction cascade, the synergistic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in this system was examined. While bFGF itself is a growth factor for VSM cells, it causes a 1.7-fold synergistic effect when added together with thrombin. Herbimycin A, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, both decreases thrombin-induced mitogenesis by greater than 90% and abolishes tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma-1. The magnitude and time course of the increase in intracellular free calcium concentration in response to thrombin is comparable in both the presence and absence of herbimycin A. These results provide evidence that herbimycin A specifically inhibits PLC-gamma-1 tyrosine phosphorylation without affecting VSM cell viability or calcium release. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation is a necessary step in thrombin's mitogenic signal transduction cascade, but it is not essential for thrombin-induced release of calcium from intracellular stores. These data suggest that a tyrosine kinase, possibly supplied by the bFGF receptor, plays an essential role in thrombin-induced mitogenesis.     

Thrombin immobilized to extracellular matrix is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells: nonenzymatic mode of action.

Esterolytically inactive diisopropyl fluorophosphate-conjugated thrombin (DIP-alpha-thrombin) stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation and proliferation of growth-arrested vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), similar to native alpha-thrombin. Half-maximal mitogenic response of SMCs was obtained at 1 nM thrombin and was specifically blocked by the leech-derived, high-affinity thrombin inhibitor, hirudin. Native thrombin and a variety of thrombin species that were chemically modified to alter thrombin procoagulant or esterolytic functions were found to induce 3H-thymidine incorporation to a similar extent. Exposure of SMCs to DIP-alpha-thrombin caused a rapid and transient expression of the c-fos protooncogene, determined by Northern blot analysis. These results indicate that thrombin is a potent mitogen for SMCs through a distinct non-enzymatic domain. Binding of 125I-alpha-thrombin to SMC cultures revealed an apparent dissociation constant of 6 nM and an estimated 5.4 x 10(5) binding sites per cell. This binding was inhibited to the same extent by native thrombin and by its nonenzymatic form, DIP-alpha-thrombin. Moreover, the chemotactic fragment of thrombin (CB67-129), which failed to elicit a mitogenic response, competed for 125I-alpha-thrombin binding to SMCs. Cross-linking analysis of 125I-alpha-thrombin to SMCs revealed a specific cell-surface binding site 55 kDa in size. Finally, thrombin immobilized to a naturally produced extracellular matrix retained potent mitogenic activity toward SMCs. These observations lend support to the possibility that in vivo, subendothelial basement membranes sequester thrombin (as well as other bioactive molecules), which may stimulate localized and persistent growth of arterial SMCs. Thrombin may thus be involved directly in progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation.     

Role of PDGF-A expression in the control of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by transforming growth factor-beta

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional regulatory peptide that can inhibit or promote the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), depending on cell density (Majack, R. A. 1987. J. Cell Biol. 105:465-471). In this study, we have examined the mechanisms underlying the growth-promoting effects of TGF-beta in confluent SMC cultures. In mitogenesis assays using confluent cells, TGF-beta was found to potentiate the stimulatory effects of serum, PDGF, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and was shown to act individually as a mitogen for SMC. In gene and protein expression experiments, TGF-beta was found to regulate the expression of PDGF-A and thrombospondin, two potential mediators of SMC proliferative events. The induction of thrombospondin protein and mRNA was density-dependent, delayed relative to its induction by PDGF and, based on cycloheximide experiments, appeared to depend on the de novo synthesis of an intermediary protein (probably PDGF-A). The relationship between PDGF-A expression and TGF-beta-mediated mitogenesis was investigated, and it was determined that a PDGF-like activity (probably PDGF-A) was the biological mediator of the growth-stimulatory effects of TGF-beta on confluent SMC. The effects of purified homodimers of PDGF-A on SMC replication were investigated, and it was determined that PDGF-AA was mitogenic for cultured SMC, particularly when used in combination with other growth factors such as bFGF and PDGF-BB. The data suggest several molecular mechanisms that may account for the ability of TGF-beta to promote the growth of confluent SMC in culture.     

Factor Xa induces mitogenesis of vascular smooth muscle cells via autocrine production of epiregulin

Factor Xa has been reported to elicit smooth muscle cell proliferation via autocrine release of platelet-derived growth factor. However, this study has shown that factor Xa-induced mitogenesis of rat aortic smooth muscle cell is independent of platelet-derived growth factor. We also could not observe any platelet-derived growth factor isoforms in the cultured medium of factor Xa-stimulated cells. Our finding that the cultured medium of factor Xa-stimulated cells strongly induces rat aortic smooth muscle cell mitogenesis in the absence of factor Xa activity led us to explore the existence of a novel autocrine pathway. The autocrine growth factor was purified from the cultured medium and was identified to be epiregulin. Recombinant epiregulin was also able to induce the mitogenesis. The secretion of epiregulin from factor Xa-stimulated rat aortic smooth muscle cell required mRNA expression and protein synthesis of the growth factor. The mitogenic effect of factor Xa on rat aortic smooth muscle cell was significantly reduced by anti-epiregulin antibody or by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to epiregulin. Several lines of experimental evidence clearly indicate that the autocrine production of epiregulin, an epidermal growth factor-related ligand, is induced in the factor Xa-stimulated mitogenic process of rat aortic smooth muscle cell.     

Transcriptional regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in capillary endothelial cells.

The growth of capillary endothelial cells (BCE) is an important regulatory step in the formation of capillary blood vessels. In vivo, the proliferation of these cells is stringently controlled. In vitro they can be stimulated by polypeptide growth factors, such as acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Since bFGF is synthesized and stored by vascular endothelial cells, this mitogen may play an important role in an autocrine growth regulation during angiogenesis. Here, evidence is presented for induction of the mRNA of bFGF by bFGF itself. A similar increase of bFGF mRNA was observed in response to thrombin and after treatment with phorbol ester. These results suggest that an autocrine loop may exist that may serve to modulate the mitogenic response in BCE under various physiological conditions, (e.g., wound healing and new capillary formation).     

Thrombin inactivates acidic fibroblast growth factor but not basic fibroblast growth factor

Incubation of bovine brain derived acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) with bovine or human thrombin, 0.5 NIH unit/mL, for 24 h at 37 degrees C results in cleavage of the mitogen, generating a 14-kilodalton fragment which has significantly reduced affinity for immobilized heparin as compared to aFGF, and is at least 50-fold less potent at stimulating mitogenesis. In addition, an 18 amino acid peptide, aFGF(123-140), is generated, identifying one of the thrombin cleavage sites as the Arg-122/Thr-123 bond. The peptide, aFGF(123-140), is neither mitogenic itself nor an inhibitor of the mitogenic activity of aFGF. The cleavage of aFGF by thrombin is inhibited by heparin (50 micrograms/mL) and is completely blocked by the irreversible thrombin inhibitors D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone and hirudin. Incubation of aFGF with 50 units/mL thrombin at 37 degrees C results in rapid cleavage of the mitogen into several fragments. In contrast, incubation of bovine brain derived basic fibroblast growth factor with 1 unit/mL thrombin for 24 h, or 50 units/mL thrombin for 6 h, does not result in significant cleavage of mitogen. The results show that the C-terminal region of aFGF is of functional importance in both mitogenesis and heparin binding. Most importantly, a novel role for anionic heparin-binding growth factors and their fragments is indicated in physiologic and pathologic situations associated with thrombin generation.     

Activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and fatty acid transacylase is essential but not sufficient for thrombin-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation

Thrombin is a potent stimulant of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in inflammatory conditions, leading to pathological thickening of vascular walls in atherosclerosis and airway remodeling in asthma. Cell proliferation requires the formation and remodeling of cell membrane phospholipids (PLs), involving the activation of PL-metabolizing enzymes. Yet, the role of specific PL-metabolizing enzymes in SMC proliferation has hardly been studied. To bridge this gap, in the present study, we investigated the role of key enzymes involved in PL metabolism, the PL-hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and the PL-synthesizing enzyme lysophosphatidic acid-fatty acid transacylase (LPAAT), in thrombin-induced proliferation of bovine aortic SMCs (BASMCs). Concomitantly with the induction of BASMC proliferation, thrombin activated cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2-alpha), expressed by selective release of arachidonic acid and mRNA expression, as well as LPAAT, expressed by nonselective incorporation of fatty acid and mRNA expression. Specific inhibitors of these enzymes, arachidonyl-trifluoromethyl-ketone for cPLA2 and thimerosal for LPAAT, suppressed their activities, concomitantly with suppression of BASMC proliferation, suggesting a mandatory requirement for cPLA2 and LPAAT activation in thrombin-induced SMC proliferation. Thrombin acts through the protease-activated receptor (PAR-1), and, accordingly, we found that thrombin-induced BASMC proliferation was suppressed by the PAR-1 inhibitor SCH-79797. However, the PAR-1 inhibitor did not prevent thrombin-induced mRNA expression of cPLA2 and LPAAT, implying that the activation of cPLA2 and LPAAT is essential but not sufficient for thrombin-induced proliferation of BASMCs.     

Inhibition of rat smooth muscle cell adhesion and proliferation by non-anticoagulant heparins

Heparin is a well established growth inhibitor of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) both in animal models and in vitro. Even though the cellular mechanisms involved in the anti-proliferative properties of heparin are being resolved, the structural requirements for the biological effects of heparin are not known in detail. Here, we have studied the effect of chemically modified heparins of different molecular weights and anticoagulant activities on proliferation and adhesion of rat aortic SMCs in vitro. The effects of native heparin (NH) and chemically modified heparins were examined after stimulation with fetal calf serum (FCS), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (hbEGF) with respect to DNA synthesis and expression of phosphorylated and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (pERK1 and 2). In a similar manner as NH, the modified heparins were capable of inhibiting activation of ERK1 and 2 and DNA synthesis induced by FCS and hbEGF whereas the modified heparins potentiated the mitogenic effect of bFGF and no compound affected PDGF BB-induced ERK activity and SMC growth. In contrast, cell adhesion to fibronectin was inhibited by NH and modified heparins in a size-dependent manner with the lowest effect by the smallest compound. The results show that heparins with varying anticoagulant activities and molecular weights but with similar sulfate content can retain anti-proliferative properties while the effect on some other biological processes such as cell adhesion is lost. Possibly, such chemical alterations may yield useful substances for the prevention of SMC proliferation after arterial injury.     

Transforming growth factor beta 1 is a powerful modulator of platelet-derived growth factor action in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have studied the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) mitogenesis and expression of thrombospondin and other growth related genes. We found that TGF-beta 1 treatment of vascular SMC induced a prolonged increase in steady-state mRNA levels of thrombospondin as well as alpha 1 (IV) collagen. The increase began at approximately 2 h, peaked by 24 h, and remained considerably elevated 48 h after growth factor addition. There was a corresponding increase in thrombospondin protein as well as increased expression of several other secreted polypeptides. The increase in thrombospondin contrasted sharply with that observed for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) which induced a rapid and transient increase in thrombospondin mRNA level. Although TGF-beta 1 was able to directly enhance expression of thrombospondin as well as the growth-related genes c-fos and c-myc, and induced c-fos expression with identical kinetics as PDGF, it was unable to elicit [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in three independent smooth muscle cell strains. However, TGF-beta 1 was able to strongly increase the mitogenic response of SMC to PDGF. Addition of both TGF-beta 1 and PDGF to SMC also caused a synergistic increase in the expression of thrombospondin as well as c-myc. Interestingly, in one other smooth muscle cell strain, a weak and delayed mitogenic response to TGF-beta 1 alone was observed. Our results strongly suggest that induction of thrombospondin expression by TGF-beta 1 and by PDGF occurs by distinct mechanisms. In addition, that TGF-beta 1 can enhance PDGF-induced mitogenesis may be due to the ability of TGF-beta 1 to directly induce the expression of thrombospondin, c-fos, c-myc, and the PDGF beta-receptor.     

Heparin and dibutyryl cAMP modulate gene expression in stimulated human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells

Summary Increased expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A chain, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) by smooth muscle cells (SMC) has been postulated to mediate the progression of intimal hyperplasia. We tested whether heparin would suppress the expression of these genes in stimulated human saphenous vein SMC. Quiescent cultured human saphenous vein SMC were stimulated for 4 h with heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (10% by vol) in the presence or absence of heparin (1 to 250μg/ml). Heparin (50μg/ml) attenuated the induction by serum of bFGF mRNA, tPA mRNA, and tPA secretion. Nonanticoagulant heparin also attenuated serum induction of bFGF and tPA mRNA levels. To further study the role of second messenger signaling, a more specific mode of SMC stimulation was used with thrombin (3 U/ml) in the presence or absence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bu₂-cAMP; 0.5 mM). In contrast to heparin, which had no effect on PDGF expression, Bu₂-cAMP decreased the induction by thrombin of PDGF-A chain mRNA levels. In thrombin-stimulated SMC, Bu₂-cAMP significantly decreased secretion of PDGF-AA protein. Thrombin, however, caused an increase in bFGF mRNA levels which was potentiated by Bu₂-cAMP with associated potentiation by Bu₂-cAMP of intracellular bFGF protein levels. The induction of tPA mRNA and tPA secretion by thrombin was sharply blocked by Bu₂-cAMP. These results suggest that heparin reduces intimal hyperplasia at least partly via partial inhibition of SMC gene expression.     

Transforming growth factor type beta 1 modulates the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on growth and phenotypic expression of rat astroblasts in vitro

In a search of the growth factors possibly involved in brain ontogenesis we have examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the growth and phenotypic expression of rat astroblasts in primary culture. Along TGF-beta 1 elicited only a slight negative effect on the growth of these cells. However, this factor was found to modulate the mitogenic effects of other growth factors. On quiescent cells it potentiates the mitogenic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) but not that of other growth factors, namely, epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and thrombin. TGF-beta 1 did not modulate significantly the stimulatory effect of these growth factors on the activity of the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS); but kinetic studies showed that TGF-beta 1 delays the stimulation of GS activity. DNA synthesis monitored by the incorporation of [125I]iododeoxyuridine (125I-dUrd) was maximum after 24-30 h of treatment with bFGF. With bFGF plus TGF-beta 1 the maximum was shifted to 30-36 h. This shift is compatible with the idea that TGF-beta 1 induces responsiveness in some cells which are otherwise unresponsive to the mitogenic action of bFGF, and that this induction requires some time. This hypothesis is sustained by the observation that in cells treated for only 12 h with bFGF, the treatment with TGF-beta 1 for the same 12 h or for longer time did not stimulate significantly the cell growth. Stimulation occurred only when the bFGF treatment was continued after 12 h. Potentiation of the mitogenic effect of bFGF and shift of the maximum 125I-dUrd incorporation towards 24 h was seen with cells pretreated with TGF-beta 1. This potentiation effect decreased with increasing time between the two treatments. The potentiation effect of TGF-beta 1 is not mediated by an induction of new bFGF membrane receptors as seen by binding studies.     

Thrombin binds to murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and enhances colony-stimulating factor-1-driven mitogenesis

The binding and mitogenic properties of thrombin have been established in various transformed cell lines. In such systems, thrombin induces cell division in the absence of exogenous growth factors, and the enzyme is considered to act directly as a mitogen. This study explores thrombin's interaction with nontransformed, growth factor-dependent cells. Binding of 125I-alpha-thrombin to colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1-dependent bone marrow-derived macrophages is saturable, time-dependent, and displaceable by both unlabeled alpha-thrombin, and esterolytically inactive thrombin. Both dissociation studies of pre-bound radio-labeled thrombin and Scatchard analysis assisted by the program "Ligand" suggest adherence of thrombin-binding data to a multi-site model. There are an estimated 2 x 10(4) high affinity sites (Kd = 7 x 10(-9)M) and 2 x 10(6) low affinity sites (Kd = 9 x 10(-7)M) per cell. Quiescent bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured with either 10(-8)M thrombin, 1000 units of CSF-1/ml, or both and [3H]thymidine incorporation was determined. Thrombin alone did not induce mitogenesis. CSF-1 induced mitogenesis with peak [3H] thymidine incorporation occurring 24 h after addition of the mitogen. This CSF-1-dependent mitogenic influence was enhanced greater than 2-fold by treatment with thrombin.     

Cultured primate aortic smooth muscle cells express both the PDGF-A and PDGF-B genes but do not secrete mitogenic activity or dimeric platelet-derived growth factor protein

Proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the arterial intima of man and experimental animals is important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Vascular SMC proliferation in vitro is stimulated by a number of agents, including the potent protein mitogen, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Recent studies on rat arterial SMC indicate that these cells may, under certain circumstances, synthesize PDGF protein mitogens, suggesting that the regulation of SMC proliferation in vivo may have an autocrine or paracrine component. In this study we demonstrate that cultured nonhuman primate (baboon) aortic SMC transcribe both the PDGF-A and PDGF-B genes but do not secrete detectable mitogenic activity characteristic of native PDGF. The absence of this activity was not due to the presence in the cell conditioned medium of factors inhibitory for PDGF-mediated mitogenic activity. Metabolic labeling of the cells and immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies to human PDGF did not detect a dimeric (30 kDa) PDGF protein in either the intracellular or extracellular compartments, but instead identified PDGF-related proteins of molecular weight 12 kDa and 100 kDa. These data suggest the presence in vascular SMC of a mechanism regulating the translation of PDGF mRNA that may play an important role in the control of SMC proliferation in vivo.     

CD40 ligand (CD40L) does not stimulate proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

The present study investigates the effects of CD40 ligand (CD40L) on mitogenic signalling, proliferation, and migration of cultured bovine coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC). A time- and concentration-dependent phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1/2 (ERK-1/2) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p38-MAPK) was observed upon stimulation with soluble CD40L (sCD40L). This phosphorylation was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against the CD40 and CD40L, respectively. Activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI-3) kinase pathway by sCD40L, as determined by the measurement of Akt phosphorylation, was not detected. However, there was evidence for direct activation of the NFkappaB system (degradation of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of the p65 NFkappaB subunit) by sCD40L. Accordingly, sCD40L caused a small but significant increase in DNA synthesis. However, sCD40L-induced DNA synthesis was not followed by proliferation (increase in cell number). Furthermore, sCD40L did not potentiate SMC mitogenesis induced by known mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor-BB, thrombin or serum. The lack of cell proliferation was not caused by a concomitant induction of SMC apoptosis by sCD40L. The possible role of membrane-bound CD40L in SMC mitogenesis was also studied using different membrane preparations (platelets, lymphocytes). However, no mitogenic effects of membrane-bound CD40L were detected. Finally, sCD40L did not induce SMC migration. From these data it is concluded that CD40L activates mitogenic signalling and DNA synthesis but does not contribute to proliferation or migration of vascular SMC.     

Activation of protein kinase-C differentially regulates insulin-like growth factor-I and basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA levels.

Fibroblasts represent one of the in vivo sites of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production. In this study rat dermal fibroblasts in culture were used as a model system to assess the effect of activation of protein kinase-C on the levels of the mRNAs encoding IGF-I and another growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). IGF-I and bFGF mRNA levels were determined using a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay. Treatment of cells in serum-free medium containing 0.25% BSA (MEM + BSA) with the tumor-promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased IGF-I and increased bFGF mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The peak effect of 100 nM PMA on IGF-I mRNA levels occurred at 9 h, whereas the peak effect on bFGF mRNA levels occurred after 3 h of incubation. In dose-response studies, half-maximal inhibition of IGF-I mRNA levels was achieved with approximately 0.08 nM PMA, while half-maximal stimulation of bFGF mRNA levels was achieved with approximately 3 nM PMA. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide abrogated the effect of PMA on bFGF mRNA levels, but only partially inhibited the effect of PMA on IGF-I mRNA levels. Studies employing sphingosine or staurosporine to inhibit protein kinase-C or preincubation in high doses of PMA to down-regulate protein kinase-C suggested that the effect of PMA on IGF-I and bFGF mRNA levels was mediated by activation of protein kinase-C, although both staurosporine and sphingosine had independent effects on the levels of these mRNAs and down-regulation of protein kinase-C had a sustained effect on IGF-I mRNA levels. Ligands known to activate protein kinase-C were then tested. Treatment of cells with 100 micrograms/ml of the synthetic diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol decreased IGF-I mRNA levels to 25% and increased bFGF mRNA levels to 520% of the level present in cells maintained in MEM + BSA. Treatment of cells with thrombin or bradykinin also decreased IGF-I mRNA levels and increased bFGF mRNA levels, but whereas the effect of thrombin on IGF-I mRNA levels was marked, the effect of bradykinin was minimal, and whereas the effect of thrombin on bFGF mRNA levels was sustained, the effect of bradykinin was transient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Platelet-derived growth factor and heparin-like glycosaminoglycans regulate thrombospondin synthesis and deposition in the matrix by smooth muscle cells

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a smooth muscle cell (SMC) mitogen, and heparin-like glycosaminoglycans, known inhibitors of SMC growth and migration, were found to regulate thrombospondin synthesis and matrix deposition by cultured rat aortic SMC. The synthesis and distribution of thrombospondin was examined in growth-arrested SMCs, in PDGF-stimulated SMCs, and in heparin-treated SMCs using metabolic labeling and immunofluorescence techniques. Thrombospondin synthesis in response to purified PDGF occurred within 1 h after addition of growth factor to growth-arrested SMCs, peaked at 2 h, and returned to baseline levels by 5 h. The induction of synthesis of thrombospondin by PDGF was dose dependent, with a maximal effect observed at 2.5 ng/ml. Actinomycin D (2 micrograms/ml) inhibited thrombospondin induction by PDGF, suggesting a requirement for new RNA synthesis. In the presence of heparin and related polyanions, the incorporation of thrombospondin into the SMC extracellular matrix was markedly reduced. This effect was dose dependent with a maximal effect observed at a heparin concentration of 1 microgram/ml. Heparin did not affect the ability of SMCs to synthesize thrombospondin in response to PDGF. We interpret these data to suggest a role for thrombospondin in the SMC proliferative response to PDGF and in the regulation of SMC growth and migration by glycosaminoglycans.