Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein regulates carotid intimal hyperplasia through controlling apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells

Intimal hyperplasia is the main cause of restenosis after carotid artery injury, and the underlying mechanism involves the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Associated Protein (ATRAP) has been reported to withstand intimal hyperplasia by inhibiting VSMCs proliferation and migration; however, whether the beneficial effect of ATRAP associates with VSMCs apoptosis remains unclarified. We demonstrated that the adenoviral-mediated overexpression of ATRAP induced VSMC apoptosis, alleviating the balloon injury-induced neointima formation in rats. Under the condition of Angiotensin-II stimulation, ATRAP overexpression induced the apoptosis of rat VSMCs by depressing the PI3K-Akt signaling; whereas up-regulation of Akt by PTEN inhibitor abolished the apoptotic death. Thus, ATRAP regulates carotid intimal hyperplasia through controlling the PI3K-Akt signal-mediated VSMCs apoptosis.     

Essential role of Pin1 via STAT3 signalling and mitochondria‐dependent pathways in restenosis in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with accelerated restenosis rates after angioplasty. We have previously proved that Pin1 played an important role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) cycle and apoptosis. But neither the role of Pin1 in restenosis by T2D, nor the molecular mechanism of Pin1 in these processes has been elucidated. A mouse model of T2D was generated by the combination of high‐fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) injections. Both Immunohistochemistry and Western blot revealed that Pin1 expression was up‐regulated in the arterial wall in T2D mice and in VSMCs in culture conditions mimicking T2D. Next, increased activity of Pin1 was observed in neointimal hyperplasia after arterial injury in T2D mice. Further analysis confirmed that 10% serum of T2D mice and Pin1‐forced expression stimulated proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, enhanced cell cycle progression and migration of VSMCs, whereas Pin1 knockdown resulted in the converse effects. We demonstrated that STAT3 signalling and mitochondria‐dependent pathways played critical roles in the involvement of Pin1 in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis of VSMCs in T2D. In addition, VEGF expression was stimulated by Pin1, which unveiled part of the mechanism of Pin1 in regulating VSMC migration in T2D. Finally, the administration of juglone via pluronic gel onto injured common femoral artery resulted in a significant inhibition of the neointima/media ratio. Our findings demonstrated the vital effect of Pin1 on the VSMC proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and migration that underlie neointima formation in T2D and implicated Pin1 as a potential therapeutic target to prevent restenosis in T2D.     

Atorvastatin Calcium Inhibits Phenotypic Modulation of PDGF-BB-Induced VSMCs via Down-Regulation the Akt Signaling Pathway

Plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a central role in the onset and progression of proliferative vascular diseases. In adult tissue, VSMCs exist in a physiological contractile-quiescent phenotype, which is defined by lack of the ability of proliferation and migration, while high expression of contractile marker proteins. After injury to the vessel, VSMC shifts from a contractile phenotype to a pathological synthetic phenotype, associated with increased proliferation, migration and matrix secretion. It has been demonstrated that PDGF-BB is a critical mediator of VSMCs phenotypic switch. Atorvastatin calcium, a selective inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl l coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, exhibits various protective effects against VSMCs. In this study, we investigated the effects of atorvastatin calcium on phenotype modulation of PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs and the related intracellular signal transduction pathways. Treatment of VSMCs with atorvastatin calcium showed dose-dependent inhibition of PDGF-BB-induced proliferation. Atorvastatin calcium co-treatment inhibited the phenotype modulation and cytoskeleton rearrangements and improved the expression of contractile phenotype marker proteins such as α-SM actin, SM22α and calponin in comparison with PDGF-BB alone stimulated VSMCs. Although Akt phosphorylation was strongly elicited by PDGF-BB, Akt activation was attenuated when PDGF-BB was co-administrated with atorvastatin calcium. In conclusion, atorvastatin calcium inhibits phenotype modulation of PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs and activation of the Akt signaling pathway, indicating that Akt might play a vital role in the modulation of phenotype.     

TIPE2 deficiency accelerates neointima formation by downregulating smooth muscle cell differentiation

Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is known to play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms that mediate VSMC phenotypic switching are unclear. We report here that TIPE2, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TNFAIP8L2), plays an atheroprotective role by regulating phenotypic switching of VSMCs in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) stimuli. TIPE2-deficient VSMCs treated with ox-LDL expressed lower levels of contractile proteins such as SMαA, SM-MHC and calponin, whereas the proliferation, migration and the synthetic capacity for growth factors and cytokines were increased remarkably. Furthermore, TIPE2 inhibited VSMCs proliferation by preventing G₁/S phase transition. Interestingly, these effects of TIPE2 on VSMCs were dependent on P38 and ERK1/2 kinase signals. As a result, neointima formation was accelerated in the carotid arteries of TIPE2-deficient mice. These results indicate that TIPE2 is a potential inhibitor of atherosclerosis.     

Antagonistic effect of C19 on migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and intimal hyperplasia induced by chemokine-like factor 1

A chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is a recently discovered chemokine with broad-spectrum biological functions in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. C19 as a CKLF1’s C-terminal peptide has been reported to exert inhibitory effects in a variety of diseases. However, the roles of CKLF1 and C19 on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and neointima formation still remain elusive. The effects of CKLF1 and C19 on VSMC migration and neointimal formation were investigated in cultured VSMCs and balloon-injured rat carotid arteries based on techniques including adenovirus-induced CKLF1 overexpression, gel based perivascular administration of C19, Boyden chamber, scratch-wound assay, real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. CKLF1 was noticed to accumulate preferentially in neointima after the injury and colocalize with VSMCs. Luminal delivery of CKLF1 adenovirus to arteries exacerbated intimal thickening while perivascular administration of C19 to injured arteries attenuated this problem. In cultured primary VSMCs, CKLF1 overexpression up-regulated VSMC migration, which was down-regulated by C19. These data suggest that CKLF1 has a pivotal role in intimal hyperplasia by mediating VSMC migration. C19 was demonstrated to inhibit CKLF1-mediatated chemotaxis and restenosis. Thus further studies on C19 may provide a new treatment perspective for atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis.     

Apelin-13促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖、迁移和血管新生内膜增生

研究apelin-13对血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC）增殖和迁移的影响及其作用机制.用免疫印迹分析检测apelin-13对VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化相关基因表达的影响,结果表明,apelin-13能以时间和浓度依赖的方式诱导VSMC增殖和迁移相关基因cyclin D1和MMP-2表达,促进细胞增殖和迁移;同时使VSMC分化标志基因SM22α和SM α-actin表达水平降低.而且,用鬼笔环肽对细胞骨架进行染色的结果显示,apelin-13可以促进VSMC从收缩表型向增殖表型转化.体内实验也表明,敲低apelin可抑制球囊损伤诱导的新生内膜形成,提示apelin-13在体内具有促进血管新生内膜形成的作用.总之,本文结果表明,apelin 13通过调节VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化基因表达,进而促进其从分化型向增殖型转化,并向内膜下迁移和增殖.     

血管损伤的新靶点：干扰素调节因子

内膜增生是血管损伤后动脉重塑过程中普遍存在的现象。血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs）的增殖、迁移、表型转换是血管损伤性疾病高血压、动脉粥样硬化、血管成形术后再狭窄等的共同病理生理学过程。干扰素调节因子（interferon regulatory factors,IRFs）是一类能对干扰素基因表达起到免疫调节作用的转录因子。近来研究发现,其在血管损伤病理过程具有调节作用,其中IRF1与细胞生长、分化和损伤密切相关,IRF3与IRF7可以抑制新生内膜的形成,而IRF8和IRF9则促进VSMCs增殖、迁移及血管内膜增生。本文重点介绍了IRFs的结构特征、信号途径及在血管重塑过程中作为新型调控因子的功能。     

CCN4 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation

The migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are essential elements during the development of atherosclerosis and restenosis. An increasing number of studies have reported that extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including the CCN protein family, play a significant role in VSMC migration and proliferation. CCN4 is a member of the CCN protein family, which controls cell development and survival in multiple systems of the body. Here, we sought to determine whether CCN4 is involved in VSMC migration and proliferation. We examined the effect of CCN4 using rat cultured VSMCs. In cultured VSMCs, CCN4 stimulated the adhesion and migration of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by an antibody for integrin α5β1. CCN4 expression was enhanced by the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Furthermore, knockdown of CCN4 by siRNA significantly inhibited the VSMC proliferation. CCN4 also could up-regulate the expression level of marker proteins of the VSMCs phenotype. Taken together, these results suggest that CCN4 is involved in the migration and proliferation of VSMCs. Inhibition of CCN4 may provide a promising strategy for the prevention of restenosis after vascular interventions.     

Vascular Proteomics Reveal Novel Proteins Involved in SMC Phenotypic Change: OLR1 as a SMC Receptor Regulating Proliferation and Inflammatory Response

Neointimal hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) plays a critical role in atherosclerotic plaque formation and in-stent restenosis, but the underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood. We performed a proteomics study to identify novel signaling molecules organizing the VSMC hyperplasia. The differential proteomics analysis in a balloon-induced injury model of rat carotid artery revealed that the expressions of 44 proteins are changed within 3 days post injury. The combination of cellular function assays and a protein network analysis further demonstrated that 27 out of 44 proteins constitute key signaling networks orchestrating the phenotypic change of VSMC from contractile to epithelial-like synthetic. Among the list of proteins, the in vivo validation specifically revealed that six proteins (Rab15, ITR, OLR1, PDHβ, PTPε) are positive regulators for VSMC hyperplasia. In particular, the OLR1 played dual roles in the VSMC hyperplasia by directly mediating oxidized LDL-induced monocyte adhesion via NF-κB activation and by assisting the PDGF-induced proliferation/migration. Importantly, OLR1 and PDGFRβ were associated in close proximity in the plasma membrane. Thus, this study elicits the protein network organizing the phenotypic change of VSMC in the vascular injury diseases such as atherosclerosis and discovers OLR1 as a novel molecular link between the proliferative and inflammatory responses of VSMCs.     

Indole-3-carbinol blocks platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell function and reduces neointima formation in vivo

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect and associated cell signaling mechanisms of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation and migration of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointima formation in a carotid injury model. Our data demonstrated that I3C inhibited PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell cytotoxicity, as assessed by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation and WST-1 assays. Further studies revealed that the antiproliferative effect of I3C was caused by the arrest of cells in both the G0/G1 and S phases. Moreover, I3C treatment inhibited migration of VSMCs and partly reversed the expression of smooth-muscle-specific contractile markers. We also demonstrated that I3C-induced growth inhibition was associated with an inhibition of the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, as well as an increase in p27^Kip1 levels in PDGF-stimulated VSMCs. These beneficial effects of I3C on VSMCs appeared to be at least partly mediated by the inhibition of Akt and the subsequent activation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β. Furthermore, using a mouse carotid artery injury model, we found that treatment with 150 mg/kg I3C resulted in a significant reduction of the neointima/media ratio and cells positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. These results demonstrate that I3C can suppress the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and neointima hyperplasia after vascular injury via inhibition of the Akt/GSK3β pathway and suggest that this might be feasible as part of a therapeutic strategy for vascular proliferative diseases.     

Magnolol inhibits migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via cytoskeletal remodeling pathway to attenuate neointima formation

BackgroundIncreased proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute importantly to the formation of both atherosclerotic and restenotic lesions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of magnolol on VSMC migration.MethodsThe proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) stimulated VSMCs was performed by gelatin zymography. VSMC migration was assessed by wound healing and Boyden chamber methods. Collagen induced VSMC adhesion was determined by spectrofluorimeter and stress fibers formation was evaluated by fluorescence microscope. The expression of signaling molecules involved in stress fibers formation was determined by western blot. The phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20) was determined by urea-glycerol polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of β1-integrin and collagen type I in the injured carotid arteries of rats on day 35 after vascular injury.ResultsVSMC migration was strongly inhibited by magnolol without affecting MMPs expression. Also, magnolol inhibited β1-integrin expression, FAK phosphorylation and RhoA and Cdc42 activation to inhibit the collagen induced stress fibers formation. Moreover, magnolol inhibited the phosphorylation of MLC20. Our in vivo results showed that magnolol inhibited β1-integrin expression, collagen type I deposition and FAK phosphorylation in injured carotid arteries without affecting MMP-2 activity.ConclusionsMagnolol inhibited VSMC migration via inhibition of cytoskeletal remodeling pathway to attenuate neointima formation.General significanceThis study provides a rationale for further evaluation of magnolol for the management of atherosclerosis and restenosis.     

Akt1 isoform modulates phenotypic conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells

In this study, we investigated the role of Akt1 isoform in phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointima formation. Laminin-induced conversion of synthetic VSMCs into contractile VSMCs was measured by expression of marker proteins for contractile VSMCs and collagen gel contraction assay. Culture of synthetic VSMCs on laminin-coated plates induced expression of marker proteins for contractile VSMCs and showed contraction in response to angiotensin II (AngII) stimulation. Silencing integrin-linked kinase attenuated activation of Akt and blocked phenotypic conversion of VSMCs resulting in the loss of AngII-dependent contraction. Laminin-induced phenotypic conversion of VSMCs was abrogated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor or in cells silencing Akt1 but not Akt2. Proliferation of contractile VSMCs on laminin-coated plate was enhanced in cells silencing Akt1 whereas silencing Akt2 did not affect. Promoter activity of myocardin and SM22α was enhanced in contractile phenotype and overexpression of myocardin stimulated promoter activity of SM22α in synthetic phenotype. Promoter activity of myocardin and SM22α was reduced in cells silencing Akt1 and promoter activity of SM22α was restored by overexpression of myocardin in cells silencing Akt1. However, silencing of Akt2 affected neither promoter activity of myocardin nor SM22α. Finally, neointima formation in carotid artery ligation and high fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis was facilitated in mice lacking Akt1. This study demonstrates that Akt1 isoform stimulates laminin-induced phenotypic conversion of synthetic VSMCs by regulating the expression of myocardin. VSMCs become susceptible to shifting from contractile to synthetic phenotype by the loss of Akt1 in pathological conditions.     

Manganese superoxide dismutase inhibits neointima formation through attenuation of migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Superoxide anion is elevated during neointima development and is essential for neointimal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. However, little is known about the role of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, SOD2) in the neointima formation following vascular injury. SOD2 in the mitochondria plays an important role in cellular defense against oxidative damage. Because of its subcellular localization, SOD2 is considered the first line of defense against oxidative stress and plays a central role in metabolizing superoxide. Because mitochondria are the most important sources of superoxide anion, we speculated that SOD2 may have therapeutic benefits in preventing vascular remodeling. In this study, we used a rat carotid artery balloon-injury model and an adenoviral gene delivery approach to test the hypothesis that SOD2 suppresses vascular lesion formation. SOD2 was activated along with the progression of neointima formation in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. Depletion of SOD2 by RNA interference markedly promoted the lesion formation, whereas SOD2 overexpression suppressed the injury-induced neointima formation via attenuation of migration and proliferation of VSMCs. SOD2 exerts its inhibitory effect on VSMC migration induced by angiotensin II by scavenging superoxide anion and suppressing the phosphorylation of Akt. Our data indicate that SOD2 is a negative modulator of vascular lesion formation after injury. Therefore, SOD2 augmentation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the prevention of lesion formation in proliferative vascular diseases such as restenosis.     

Smooth muscle cell differentiation: Mechanisms and models for vascular diseases

Background

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are mature cells that play critical roles in both normal and aberrant cardiovascular conditions. In response to various environmental cues, VSMCs can dedifferentiate from a contractile state to a highly proliferative synthetic state through the so-called ‘phenotypic switching’ process. Changes in VSMC phenotype contribute to numerous vascular-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, calcification, and restenosis following angioplasty. Adventitial VSMC progenitor cells also contribute to formation of the neointima.

Methods/Results

Herein, we review both, the roles of VSMC differentiation in vascular diseases, and the in vitro models used to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of VSMC differentiation and phenotype modulation.

Conclusion

A comprehensive understanding of VSMC behavior in vascular diseases is essential to identify new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

     

ADAMTS-7 promotes vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation in vitro and in vivo

Vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) proliferation and migration are pivotal for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. We have recently reported that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-7(ADAMTS-7), a novel metalloproteinase, contributes directly to neointima formation by mediating VSMC migration. However, whether ADAMTS-7 affects VSMC proliferation remains unclear. In this study, we found that luminal adenoviral delivery of ADAMTS-7 aggravated intimal hyperplasia 7 d after injury, paralleled by an increased percentage of PCNA-positive cells in both intima and media. In contrast, perivascular administration of ADAMTS-7 si RNA, but not scrambled si RNA to injured arteries attenuated intimal thickening at day 7, paralleled with reduced intimal VSMC replication, without alteration of VSMC proliferation in the media. In accordance, [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay in primary cultured rat VSMCs revealed an enhanced replication rate(by 61%) upon ADAMTS-7 overexpression and retarded proliferation(by 23%) upon ADAMTS-7 si RNA administration. Our data demonstrates that ADAMTS-7 promotes VSMC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. ADAMTS-7 may therefore serve as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis.     

Smooth muscle cell-driven vascular diseases and molecular mechanisms of VSMC plasticity

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the major cell type in blood vessels. Unlike many other mature cell types in the adult body, VSMC do not terminally differentiate but retain a remarkable plasticity. Fully differentiated medial VSMCs of mature vessels maintain quiescence and express a range of genes and proteins important for contraction/dilation, which allows them to control systemic and local pressure through the regulation of vascular tone. In response to vascular injury or alterations in local environmental cues, differentiated/contractile VSMCs are capable of switching to a dedifferentiated phenotype characterized by increased proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix synthesis in concert with decreased expression of contractile markers. Imbalanced VSMC plasticity results in maladaptive phenotype alterations that ultimately lead to progression of a variety of VSMC-driven vascular diseases. The nature, extent and consequences of dysregulated VSMC phenotype alterations are diverse, reflecting the numerous environmental cues (e.g. biochemical factors, extracellular matrix components, physical) that prompt VSMC phenotype switching. In spite of decades of efforts to understand cues and processes that normally control VSMC differentiation and their disruption in VSMC-driven disease states, the crucial molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways that shape the VSMC phenotype programme have still not yet been precisely elucidated. In this article we introduce the physiological functions of vascular smooth muscle/VSMCs, outline VSMC-driven cardiovascular diseases and the concept of VSMC phenotype switching, and review molecular mechanisms that play crucial roles in the regulation of VSMC phenotypic plasticity.