Activation of Rho/Rho-Associated Kinase Pathway Is Involved in the Induction of Vascular Fibrogenesis.

Hypertension ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 688-688
Author(s):  
Pierre-Louis Tharaux ◽  
Sophie Vandermeersch ◽  
Christos Chatziantoniou ◽  
Jean-Claude Dussaule

56 Abnormal extracellular accumulation of collagens and reorganization of the contractile cytoskeleton network in the vascular smooth muscle cells are characteristic features of angiosclerosis and end-organ damage during cardiovascular diseases. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) activation is a key factor controling myosin phosphoryation and thus, its availability to form stress fibers. We have found previously that vasoconstrictor agents, such as angiotensin II (Ang II) or endothelin-1 (ET-1) play a major role in the activation of collagen I gene expression and synthesis within blood vessels . In the present study we investigated whether ROCK activation is involved in the profibrotic action of these peptides. Experiments were performed in transgenic mice harboring the luciferase reporter gene under the control of the collagen I- chain α2 promoter. Bolus iv. administration of pressive doses of Ang II or ET-1 induced an early (1 h) two-fold increase of collagen I gene activity in aortas. Co-administration of Y-27632, a selective inhibitor of ROCK, blocked the vasoconstrictor peptide-induced collagen I gene activation. Similar effects were obtained in freshly isolated aortas in vitro: Y-27632 blunted the Ang II- and ET-1-induced collagen I gene activation and the clustering of contractile cytoskeleton as evidenced by immunicytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Cytochalasin D, a potent inhibitor of actin polymerization also prevented the effect of Ang II and ET-1 on collagen I gene. In addition, aortic smooth muscle cells transfected with a constitutively active ROCK exhibited a two-fold increase in collagen I gene activity vs. control. These data suggest that ROCK is a major intracellular signaling pathway required for the early in vivo activation of collagen I gene induced by vasoactive peptides such as Ang II and ET-1 within the vasculature. It would be interesting to pursue in chronic studies whether ROCK inhibitors can be effeciently used as drugs against the development of vascular fibrogenesis.

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nwe Nwe Soe ◽  
Mark Sowden ◽  
Patrizia Nigro ◽  
Bradford C Berk

Objective: Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a ubiquitously expressed cytosolic protein that possesses PPIase activity and scaffold function. CyPA regulates Angiotensin II (Ang II) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the mechanism of this CyPA regulation remains unclear. We hypothesized that CyPA regulates plasma membrane translocation of NADPH oxidase cytosolic subunit, p47phox, which is required for NADPH oxidase structural organization and activity. Methods and results: Immunofluorescence studies in rat aortic smooth muscle cells revealed that CyPA translocated from the cytosol to the plasma membrane in response to Ang II in a time dependent manner with a peak at 10min (46.4±5.4 fold increase). Mouse Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (MASM) were isolated from mice lacking CyPA (CyPA-/-) and wild type controls (WT), treated with Ang II (100nM) and immunofluorescence analysis was performed. Ang II induced p47phox plasma membrane translocation at 10min in WT mice. However, p47 phox translocation was significantly inhibited in CyPA -/- MASM. CyPA and p47phox colocalized at the plasma membrane in response to Ang II. Further analysis using subcellular fractionation studies confirmed that Ang II induced p47phox plasma membrane translocation was inhibited in CyPA -/- MASM compared to WT (1.2±2.7 vs 4.3±3.4 fold increase). Coimmunoprecipitation analyses confirmed that Ang II increased CyPA association with p47phox in a time dependent manner (2.5±3.4 fold increase at 10min). Finally, pretreatment with the PPIase activity inhibitor, cyclosporine A (1uM), could not inhibit CyPA association with p47phox and CyPA mediated p47phox translocation to the plasma membrane. Conclusion: These data suggest that Ang II promotes an association between CyPA and p47phox that enhances plasma membrane translocation of p47phox. This is proposed to increase the NADPH oxidase activity thereby increasing cellular ROS production. This process is independent of the PPIase activity of CyPA. Therefore, inhibition of the CyPA and p47phox association could be a future therapeutic target for Ang II induced ROS regulated cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (5) ◽  
pp. C1247-C1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Park ◽  
Joseph G. Borer ◽  
Michael R. Freeman ◽  
Craig A. Peters

Cultured rat bladder smooth muscle cells (SMC) were grown on collagen-coated silicone membranes and subjected to continuous cycles of stretch-relaxation. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed a time-dependent increase in heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) mRNA levels after stretch, with maximal levels appearing after 4 h. Immunostaining for proHB-EGF revealed higher levels of HB-EGF protein in the stretched than in the nonstretched SMC. The ANG II receptor type 1 antagonist losartan markedly suppressed stretch-activated HB-EGF expression. ANG II levels were 3.3-fold higher in the stretch- than in the non-stretch-conditioned media. Stretch stimulation of bladder SMC that had been transiently transfected with an HB-EGF promoter-luciferase expression construct resulted in an 11-fold increase in reporter activity. Mechanical stretch induced a 4.7-fold increase in tritiated thymidine incorporation rate, and this was reduced by 25% in the presence of losartan. We conclude that mechanical stretch activates HB-EGF gene expression in bladder SMC and that this is mediated in part by autocrine ANG II secretion.


Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 478-P
Author(s):  
MASAKAZU FUJII ◽  
NORIYUKI SONODA ◽  
MISATO OKAMOTO ◽  
HIDETAKA MORINAGA ◽  
YOSHIHIRO OGAWA ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Bornfeldt ◽  
H. J. Arnqvist ◽  
G. Norstedt

ABSTRACT The aim of this investigation was to study the regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Near-confluent cells were deprived of serum for 24 h and then exposed to IGF-I, insulin, serum, basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB; consisting of B-chain homodimer) or GH for 24 h. Levels of IGF-I mRNA were measured by solution hybridization. The level of IGF-I mRNA was markedly decreased by 10% (v/v) newborn calf serum (78 ± 4 (s.e.m.) % decrease), 1 nmol basic FGF/1 (53 ± 8%), and 1 nmol PDGF-BB/1 (40 ± 3%) when measured after 24 h. The effect of PDGF-BB was significant after 6 h and became more marked after 24 h. GH (1 nmol/l or 0.1 μmol/l or insulin (1 nmol/l had no effect after 24 h, whereas IGF-I (1 nmol/l and insulin (10 μmol/l increased IGF-I mRNA 64 ± 20% and 46±14% respectively. The increase caused by IGF-I was demonstrated after 3 h, and was most marked after 24 h. Using Northern blot analysis of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, IGF-I transcripts of 7-4, 1.7 and 1.1–0.8 kilobases were observed. Exposure of the cells to 10% serum, 1 nmol basic FGF/1 or 1 nmol PDGF-BB/1 for 48 h increased the cell number by 104 ±7%, 64 ± 3% and 61±22% respectively, while IGF-I, insulin and GH had little effect. In conclusion, IGF-I, and high concentrations of insulin, increased IGF-I mRNA in vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas factors which were stronger mitogens decreased IGF-I gene expression. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 381–386


2005 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna CASTOLDI ◽  
Serena REDAELLI ◽  
Willy M. M. van de GREEF ◽  
Cira R. T. di GIOIA ◽  
Giuseppe BUSCA ◽  
...  

Ang II (angiotensin II) has multiple effects on vascular smooth muscle cells through the modulation of different classes of genes. Using the mRNA differential-display method to investigate gene expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture in response to 3 h of Ang II stimulation, we observed that Ang II down-regulated the expression of a member of the family of transmembrane receptors for Wnt proteins that was identified as Fzd2 [Fzd (frizzled)-2 receptor]. Fzds are a class of highly conserved genes playing a fundamental role in the developmental processes. In vitro, time course experiments demonstrated that Ang II induced a significant increase (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression after 30 min, whereas it caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression at 3 h. A similar rapid up-regulation after Ang II stimulation for 30 min was evident for TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor β1; P<0.05). To investigate whether Ang II also modulated Fzd2 expression in vivo, exogenous Ang II was administered to Sprague–Dawley rats (200 ng·kg−1 of body weight·min−1; subcutaneously) for 1 and 4 weeks. Control rats received normal saline. After treatment, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher (P<0.01), whereas plasma renin activity was suppressed (P<0.01) in Ang II- compared with the saline-treated rats. Ang II administration for 1 week did not modify Fzd2 expression in aorta of Ang II-treated rats, whereas Ang II administration for 4 weeks increased Fzd2 mRNA expression (P<0.05) in the tunica media of the aorta, resulting in a positive immunostaining for fibronectin at this time point. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Ang II modulates Fzd2 expression in aortic smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.


Author(s):  
Qianqian Lu ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Jiaping Lou ◽  
Pingzhen Li ◽  
Yi Gu ◽  
...  

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases, including atherosclerosis. Here, we undertook to investigate the biological role and mechanism of circRNA E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (circ-CHFR) in atherosclerosis. The expression levels of circ-CHFR, miR-214-3p, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPPA) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot in human aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT), and transwell assays, respectively. The relationship between miR-214-3p and circ-CHFR or PAPPA was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Our data showed that circ-CHFR was upregulated in HA-VSMCs after stimulation with ox-LDL. Downregulation of circ-CHFR inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HA-VSMCs exposed to ox-LDL. Mechanistically, circ-CHFR acted as a miR-214-3p sponge, and miR-214-3p was a molecular mediator of circ-CHFR regulation in ox-LDL-stimulated HA-VSMCs. PAPPA was a miR-214-3p target, and circ-CHFR regulated the expression of PAPPA by sponging miR-214-3p. Moreover, overexpression of miR-214-3p repressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ox-LDL-induced HA-VSMCs by decreasing PAPPA expression. Our findings suggest that the circ-CHFR/miR-214-3p/PAPPA axis regulates ox-LDL-induced proliferation, migration, and invasion in HA-VSMCs.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Herrera ◽  
Matthew A Sparks ◽  
Beverky H Koller ◽  
Thomas M Coffman

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a major prostanoid produced by the kidney having the potential to influence renal blood flow, Na excretion, and thus mean arterial pressure (BP). PGE2 actions are mediated by four distinct E-prostanoid (EP) receptor isoforms: EP1-EP4. The EP4 receptor (EP4R) triggers macula densa stimulation of renin, induces vasodilation, and may inhibit epithelial sodium transport. Thus, the impact of EP4Rs on BP may differ with the sites of PGE2 synthesis and pattern of EP4R activation within the kidney. To examine the role of EP4R on BP regulation we generated EP4R-deficient mice. Because deletion of EP4R in utero causes peri-natal mortality due to persistent patent ductus arteriosus, we carried out conditional deletion by crossing EP4flox/flox with a transgenic line with tamoxifen-inducible Cre expression in all tissues. Resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) measured by radiotelemetry was increased by 5±1mm Hg (p<0.05) in mice with total-body EP4R-deficiency (EP4R-TBKO) vs. controls. In addition, EP4R-TBKOs had an exaggerated increase in MAP with high-salt (6% NaCl) feeding (MAP increase: 5±1 vs. 2±1mmHg for controls; p<0.05) and during angiotensin II (Ang II)-dependent hypertension (MAP increase: 37±2 vs. 24±3mmHg for controls; p<0.05). We next hypothesized that exaggerated hypertension in the EP4R-TBKOs was due to elimination of compensatory EP4R-depedent vasodilation mediated by direct actions in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Accordingly, we generated mice lacking EP4R in VSMCs (EP4R-SMKOs) using EP4flox/flox and transgenic mice with tamoxifen-inducible expression of Cre limited to smooth muscle cells. In contrast to the EP4R-TBKOs, elimination of EP4R only from VSMC reduced resting MAP by 5±1mm Hg (p<0.04) but did not affect the BP response to high salt feeding (MAP change: 2±1 vs. 2±1 mm Hg; ns) or chronic Ang II infusion (MAP increase: 29±3 vs. 34±4 mm Hg; ns). Thus, the EP4R modulates resting MAP but its specific impact may vary between EP4R populations in different cell lineages. EP4Rs resist the development of salt- and Ang II-dependent hypertension. These anti-hypertensive actions are not mediated by direct effects of EP4R in VSMCs, but may involve EP4R in endothelium, brain, or kidney epithelia.


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