scholarly journals Melatonin Attenuates β-Glycerophosphate-Induced Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via a Wnt1/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ren Chen ◽  
Yu Jie Zhou ◽  
Jia Qi Yang ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Ying Xin Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Calcium Deposition ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Alp Activity

Background. Melatonin has been demonstrated to protect against calcification in cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. The wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 1 (Wnt1)/β-catenin pathway is associated with cardiovascular calcification. This study aimed to explore whether melatonin could attenuate VSMC calcification through regulating the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods. The effects of melatonin on vascular calcification were investigated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Calcium deposits were visualized by Alizarin Red Staining. Calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were used to evaluate osteogenic differentiation. Western blots were used to measure the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and cleaved caspase-3. Results. Melatonin markedly ameliorated calcium deposition and ALP activity. Runx2 and cleaved caspase-3 were found to be reduced and α-SMA was found to be increased by melatonin, together with a decrease in apoptosis. Immunofluorescence assay revealed a lower Runx2 protein level in the melatonin group. Melatonin treatment significantly decreased the expression of Wnt1 and β-catenin. Treatment with lithium chloride or transglutaminase 2 abrogated the protective effects of melatonin. Conclusion. Melatonin can attenuate β-GP-induced VSMC calcification through the suppression of Wnt1/β-catenin system.

scholarly journals Melatonin Attenuates Calcium Deposition from Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Activating Mitochondrial Fusion and Mitophagy via an AMPK/OPA1 Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ren Chen ◽  
Yu Jie Zhou ◽  
Jia Qi Yang ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Xue Ping Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Vascular Calcification ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mitochondrial Fusion ◽  
Calcium Deposition ◽  
Melatonin Treatment

Mitochondrial fusion/mitophagy plays a role in cardiovascular calcification. Melatonin has been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease. This study sought to explore whether melatonin attenuates vascular calcification by regulating mitochondrial fusion/mitophagy via the AMP-activated protein kinase/optic atrophy 1 (AMPK/OPA1) signaling pathway. The effects of melatonin on vascular calcification were investigated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Calcium deposits were visualized by Alizarin Red S staining, while calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were used to evaluate osteogenic differentiation. Western blots were used to measure expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), mito-light chain 3 (mito-LC3) II, and cleaved caspase 3. Melatonin markedly reduced calcium deposition and ALP activity. Runx2 and cleaved caspase 3 were downregulated in response to melatonin, whereas Mfn2 and mito-LC3II were enhanced and accompanied by decreased mitochondrial superoxide levels. Melatonin also maintained mitochondrial function and promoted mitochondrial fusion/mitophagy via the OPA1 pathway. However, OPA1 deletion abolished the protective effects of melatonin on VSMC calcification. Melatonin treatment significantly increased p-AMPK and OPA1 protein expression, whereas treatment with compound C ablated the observed benefits of melatonin treatment. Collectively, our results demonstrate that melatonin protects VSMCs against calcification by promoting mitochondrial fusion/mitophagy via the AMPK/OPA1 pathway.

Regulation of Na+ pump expression by vascular smooth muscle cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (4) ◽  
pp. H1869-H1874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslihan Aydemir-Koksoy ◽  
Julius C. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Cytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Low K

The Na+ pump and its regulation is important for maintaining membrane potential and transmembrane Na+gradient in all mammalian cells and thus is essential for cell survival and function. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) have a relatively low number of pump sites on their membrane compared with other cells. We wished to determine the mechanisms for regulating the number of pump sites in these cells. We used canine saphenous vein VSMC cultured in 10% serum and passaged one time. These cells were subcultured in 5% serum media with low K+ (1 mM vs. control of 5 mM), and their pump expression was assessed. These VSMC upregulated their pump sites as early as 4 h after treatment (measured by [3H]ouabain binding). At this early time point, there was no detectable increase in protein expression of either α1- or β1-subunits of the pump shown by Western blots. When the cells were treated with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3-K) inhibitor LY-294002 (which is known to inhibit cytoplasmic transport processes) in low-K+ media, the pump site upregulation was inhibited. These data suggest that the low-K+-induced upregulation of Na+ pump number can occur by translocation of preformed pumps from intracellular stores.

CEMIP regulates the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis through the WNT–beta-catenin signaling pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-257
Author(s):  
Qiang Xue ◽  
Xiaoli Wang ◽  
Xiaohui Deng ◽  
Yue Huang ◽  
Wei Tian
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Proliferation And Migration

In this study we investigated the regulatory role of cell-migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein (CEMIP) in the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The mRNA and protein levels of CEMIP were upregulated in the plasma samples from patients with atherosclerosis, and in VSMCs stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), compared with plasma from healthy subjects and untreated VSMCs. Silencing CEMIP suppressed PDGF-BB-induced cell migration and proliferation in VSMCs, as determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, 5-ethynyl-2′-deocyuridine (EDU) assays, flow cytometry, wound healing assays, and Transwell assays. Overexpression of CEMIP promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMCs via activation of the Wnt–β-catenin signaling pathway and the upregulation of its target genes, including matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-7, cyclin D1, and c-myc, whereas CEMIP deficiency showed the opposite effects. The knockdown of CEMIP in ApoE−/− mice by intravenous injection of lentiviral vector expressing si-CEMIP protected against high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis, as shown by the reduced aortic lesion areas, aortic sinus lesion areas, and the concentration of blood lipids compared with mice normally expressing CEMIP. These results demonstrated that CEMIP regulates the proliferation and migration of VSMCs in atherosclerosis by activating the WNT–β-catenin signaling pathway, which suggests the therapeutic potential of CEMIP for the management of atherosclerosis.

scholarly journals Triiodothyronine Potentiates Vasorelaxation via PKG/VASP Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1894-1904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherin Samuel ◽  
Kuo Zhang ◽  
Yi-Da Tang ◽  
A. Martin Gerdes ◽  
Maria Alicia Carrillo-Sepulveda
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
No Production ◽  
Vascular Relaxation ◽  
Functional Studies

Background/Aims: Vascular relaxation caused by Triiodothyronine (T3) involves direct activation of endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Activation of protein kinase G (PKG) has risen as a novel contributor to the vasorelaxation mechanism triggered by numerous stimuli. We hypothesize that T3-induced vasorelaxation involves PKG/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) signaling pathway in VSMC. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and VSMC were treated with T3 for short (2 to 60 minutes) and long term (24 hours). Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using DAF-FM. Expression of protein targets was determined using western blot. For functional studies, rat aortas were isolated and treated with T3 for 20 minutes and mounted in a wire myograph. Relaxation was measured by a concentration-dependent response to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Results: Aortas stimulated with T3 exhibited augmented sensitivity to ACh and SNP-induced relaxation, endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent responses, respectively. T3 directly increased vasorelaxation, which was abolished in the presence of a PKG inhibitor. T3 markedly induced phosphorylation of Akt, eNOS and consequently increased NO production in EC. Likewise, T3 induced phosphorylation of VASP at serine 239 via the PKG pathway in VSMC. Conclusion: Our findings have uncovered a PKG/VASP signaling pathway in VSMC as a key molecular mechanism underlying T3-induced vascular relaxation.

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