scholarly journals Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase II Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Is Potentiated by Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 2747-2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Cipolletta ◽  
S. Monaco ◽  
A. S. Maione ◽  
L. Vitiello ◽  
P. Campiglia ◽  
...  

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation contributes to vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis and hypertension. Calcium-dependent signaling through calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and ERK1/2 activation plays an important role in the regulation of VSMC proliferation by agents such as α-adrenergic receptor agonists. Nevertheless, how the CaMKII and ERK pathways interact in VSMCs has yet to be characterized. The aim of the present study was to clarify this interaction in response to α1-adrenergic receptor-mediated VSMC proliferation. We discovered that phenylephrine stimulation resulted in complex formation between CaMKII and ERK in a manner that facilitated phosphorylation of both protein kinases. To assess the effects of CaMKII/ERK association on VSMC proliferation, we inhibited endogenous CaMKII either pharmacologically or by adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of a kinase-inactive CaMKII mutant. Inhibition of CaMKII activation but not CaMKII autonomous activity significantly decreased formation of the CaMKII/ERK complex. On the contrary, the expression of constitutively active CaMKII enhanced VSMC growth and CaMKII/ERK association. In addressing the mechanism of this effect, we found that CaMKII could not directly phosphorylate ERK but instead enhanced Raf1 activation. By contrast, ERK interaction with CaMKII facilitated CaMKII phosphorylation and promoted its nuclear localization. Our results reveal a critical role for CaMKII in VSMC proliferation and imply that CaMKII facilitates assembly of the Raf/MEK/ERK complex and that ERK enhances CaMKII activation and influences its subcellular localization.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Wang ◽  
Atanas G. Atanasov

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation plays a critical role in atherosclerosis. At the beginning of the pathologic process of atherosclerosis, irregular VSMC proliferation promotes plaque formation, but in advanced plaques VSMCs are beneficial, promoting the stability and preventing rupture of the fibrous cap. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in the vascular system are involved in the control of VSMC proliferation. This review summarizes recent findings on the miRNAs in the regulation of VSMC proliferation, including miRNAs that exhibit the inhibition or promotion of VSMC proliferation, and their targets mediating the regulation of VSMC proliferation. Up to now, most of the studies were performed only in cultured VSMC. While the modulation of miRNAs is emerging as a promising strategy for the regulation of VSMC proliferation, most of the effects of miRNAs and their targets in vivo require further investigation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuming Li ◽  
Haitao Li ◽  
Xinfang Wang ◽  
Junya Wang ◽  
Zhongqiu Li

The current study was designed to explore the mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration induced by adenosine diphosphate ribosyl cyclase(ADPRC). In this study, 32 Male ApoE-/- mice(6 weeks old, 18-22g)on a C57BL/6J background were divided into four groups, which received normal chow (n=8, NC group), high-fat Western-type diet (n=8, 0.25% cholesterol, 21% fat,HFD group), high-fat Western-type diet,infusion of 2,2′-dihydroxyazobenzene(DHAB, a ADPRC inhibitor, 2mg/kg/day, n=8, HFD-DHAB group) intraperitoneally or high-fat Western-type diet,infusion of LY294002(a Inhibitor of Akt, 5mg/kg/d, n=8, HFD-LY group) intraperitoneally, for 10 weeks. 8 male C57BL/6J mice served as control. After 10 weeks, mice were anesthetized with chloral hydrate, aorta was removed and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions, VSMC proliferation and migration were assessed by histomorphological observation, smooth muscle actin-α(α-SMA)and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) examination. ADPRC expression and alterations of Akt, FOXO3a, phospho-FOXO3a and MMP-9 were determined by RT-PCR, Western Blot, Immunohistochemistry or Immunofluorescence. The results showed that, in aortic atherosclerotic lesions derived from atherosclerotic mice of HFD group, an increased VSMC proliferation and migration, reflected by the up-regulation of α-SMA and PCNA expression, were observed followed by increased expression of ADPRC, Akt, FOXO3a, phospho-FOXO3a and MMP-9. The enhanced expression of ADPRC and followed alterations of FOXO3a, phospho-FOXO3a, MMP-9 as well as α-SMA, PCNA, VSMC proliferation and migration were absent in NC group and C57BL/6J control mice. Treatment with DHAB or LY294002 reversed VSMC proliferation, migration and expression of Akt, FOXO3a, phospho-FOXO3a and MMP-9 in HFD-DHAB and HFD-LY group. These data shows that high-fat Western-type diet induced ADPRC may via PI3K-Akt to phosphorylate FOXO3a up-regulating MMP-9 to enhance vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in mice.


Author(s):  
Mei Li ◽  
Hongmei Zhu ◽  
Xiaoyan Hu ◽  
Fuhua Gao ◽  
Xinxin Hu ◽  
...  

Transmembrane protein 98 (TMEM98) is a novel gene. In a prior study, we have shown that siRNA-mediated knockdown of TMEM98 inhibited interleukin (IL)-8-promoted endothelial cell (EC) adhesion as well as vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration in the vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells dysfunction. Herein, we used gain- and loss-of-function approaches combined with biochemical techniques to further explore the role of TMEM98 in the vascular wall cell. The expression and secretion of TMEM98 was increased in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and VSMCs treated with IL-8 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. Also, PDGF-BB secretion was increased in TMEM98-treated HUVECs and VSMCs. Thus, it appears that TMEM98 and PDGF-BB form a positive feedback loop in potentiation of EC adhesion as well as VSMC proliferation and migration. Knockdown of TMEM98 mediated by siRNA inhibited PDGF-BB-promoted EC adhesion by downregulating the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 as well as impaired the proliferation and migration of VSMCs through suppressing the AKT/GSK3β/cyclin D1 signaling pathway and reducing the expression of β-catenin. Hence, TMEM98 promoted EC adhesion through inducing the expression of ICAM-1/VCAM-1 and triggered VSMC proliferation and migration through activating the ERK and AKT/GSK3β signaling pathways. Taken together, TMEM98 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the clinical treatment.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (6) ◽  
pp. C1481-C1488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Liu ◽  
Yunhui Cheng ◽  
Jian Yang ◽  
Thomas J. Krall ◽  
Yuqing Huo ◽  
...  

It is well established that vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis and proliferation are critical cellular events in a variety of human vascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in controlling VSMC apoptosis and proliferation are still unclear. In the current study, we have found that programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is significantly downregulated in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries in vivo and in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated VSMCs in vitro. Overexpression of PDCD4 via adenovirus (Ad-PDCD4) increases VSMC apoptosis in an apoptotic model induced by serum deprivation. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis is significantly decreased by knockdown of PDCD4 via its small interfering RNA. In the rat carotid arteries in vivo, VSMC apoptosis is increased by Ad-PDCD4. We have further identified that activator protein 1 is a downstream signaling molecule of PDCD4 that is associated with PDCD4-mediated effects on VSMC apoptosis. In addition, VSMC proliferation was inhibited by overexpression of PDCD4. The current study has identified, for the first time, that PDCD4 is an essential regulator of VSMC apoptosis and proliferation. The downregulation of PDCD4 expression in diseased vascular walls may be responsible for the imbalance of VSMC proliferation and apoptosis. The results indicate that PDCD4 may be a new therapeutic target in proliferative vascular diseases.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Whitesell ◽  
Paul Chrystal ◽  
Jae-Ryeon Ryu ◽  
Nicole Munsie ◽  
Ann Grosse ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite the critical role of vascular mural cells (smooth muscle cells and pericytes) in supporting the endothelium of blood vessels, we know little of their early morphogenesis and differentiation. foxc1b:EGFP expressing cells in zebrafish associate with the vascular endothelium (kdrl) and co-express a smooth muscle marker (acta2), but not a pericyte marker (pdgfrβ). The expression of foxc1b in early peri-endothelial mesenchymal cells allows us to follow the morphogenesis of mesenchyme into acta2 expressing vascular smooth muscle cells. We show that mural cells expressing different markers associate with vessels of different diameters, depending on their embryonic location and developmental timing, suggesting marker expression is predictive of functional differences. We identify gene expression signatures for an enriched vascular smooth muscle cell population (foxc1b + acta2) and all smooth muscle (acta2) using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and RNA-Seq. Finally, we demonstrate that progressive loss of foxc1a/foxc1b results in decreased smooth muscle cell coverage. Together, our data highlight the early cellular dynamics and transcriptome profiles of smooth muscle cells in vivo, using foxc1b as a unique tool to probe vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation.Summary StatementTracing the morphogenesis and transcriptome of early vascular smooth muscle cells using foxc1b


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Xiao-Fei Gao ◽  
Zhi-Mei Wang ◽  
Ai-Qun Chen ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
Shuai Luo ◽  
...  

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of in-stent restenosis (ISR), the underlying mechanism of which remains a key issue needing to be urgently addressed. This study is designed to investigate the role of plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in VSMC phenotypic modulation. sEV were isolated from the plasma of patients with ISR (ISR-sEV) or not (Ctl-sEV) 1 year after coronary stent implantation using differential ultracentrifugation. Plasma sEV in ISR patients are elevated markedly and decrease the expression of VSMC contractile markers α-SMA and calponin and increase VSMC proliferation. miRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR validation identified that miRNA-501-5p was the highest expressed miRNA in the plasma ISR-sEV compared with Ctl-sEV. Then, we found that sEV-carried miRNA-501-5p level was significantly higher in ISR patients, and the level of plasma sEV-carried miRNA-501-5p linearly correlated with the degree of restenosis ( R 2 = 0.62 ). Moreover, miRNA-501-5p inhibition significantly increased the expression of VSMC contractile markers α-SMA and calponin and suppressed VSMC proliferation and migration; in vivo inhibition of miRNA-501-5p could also blunt carotid artery balloon injury induced VSMC phenotypic modulation in rats. Mechanically, miRNA-501-5p promoted plasma sEV-induced VSMC proliferation by targeting Smad3. Notably, endothelial cells might be the major origins of miRNA-501-5p. Collectively, these findings showed that plasma sEV-carried miRNA-501-5p promotes VSMC phenotypic modulation-mediated ISR through targeting Smad3.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyeon Oh ◽  
Myeongjoo Son ◽  
Chul-Hyun Park ◽  
Ji Tae Jang ◽  
Kuk Hui Son ◽  
...  

Hyperlipidemia induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and phenotype switching from contractile to synthetic. This process is involved in arterial remodeling via the chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5)/chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) pathway. Arterial remodeling is related to atherosclerosis or intimal hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol (PPB) from E. cava reduces VSMC proliferation and phenotype switching via the CCL5/CCR5 pathway. The CCL5/CCR5 expression, VSMC proliferation and phenotypic alterations were evaluated using a cell model of VSMC exposed in hyperlipidemia, and an animal model of mice fed a high-fat-diet (HFD). The expression of CCL5/CCR5 increased in both the cell and animal models of hyperlipidemia. Treatment with PPB decreased CCL5/CCR5 expression in both models. The expression of contractile markers of VSMCs, including alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC), and smooth muscle protein 22 alpha (SM22α), were decreased by hyperlipidemia and restored after treatment with PPB. The silencing of CCR5 attenuated the effects of PPB treatment. VSMC proliferation and the intima-media thickness of the aortas, increased with HFD and decreased after treatment with PPB. The VSMC proliferation ratio and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of cell cycle regulatory factors increased in the in vitro model and were restored after treatment with PPB. PPB treatment reduced VSMC proliferation and phenotype switching induced by hyperlipidemia through inhibition of the CCL5/CCR5 pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3508
Author(s):  
Eveline A.C. Goossens ◽  
Margreet R. de Vries ◽  
J. Wouter Jukema ◽  
Paul H.A. Quax ◽  
A. Yaël Nossent

Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle cell growth and proliferation. Furthermore, myostatin directly affects the expression of 14q32 microRNAs by binding the 14q32 locus. Direct inhibition of 14q32 microRNA miR-495-3p decreased postinterventional restenosis via inhibition of both vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and local inflammation. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of myostatin in a mouse model for postinterventional restenosis. In VSMCs in vitro, myostatin led to the dose-specific downregulation of 14q32 microRNAs miR-433-3p, miR-494-3p, and miR-495-3p. VSMC proliferation was inhibited, where cell migration and viability remained unaffected. In a murine postinterventional restenosis model, myostatin infusion did not decrease restenosis, neointimal area, or lumen stenosis. Myostatin inhibited expression of both proliferation marker PCNA and of 14q32 microRNAs miR-433-3p, miR-494-3p, and miR-495-3p dose-specifically in cuffed femoral arteries. However, 14q32 microRNA expression remained unaffected in macrophages and macrophage activation as well as macrophage influx into lesions were not decreased. In conclusion, myostatin did not affect postinterventional restenosis. Although myostatin inhibits 14q32 microRNA expression and proliferation in VSMCs, myostatin had no effect on macrophage activation and infiltration. Our findings underline that restenosis is driven by both VSMC proliferation and local inflammation. Targeting only one of these components is insufficient to prevent restenosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Li ◽  
Bing Yi ◽  
Qing Qin ◽  
Ming Chen ◽  
Xiaohua You ◽  
...  

Background Abnormal phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a hallmark of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as critical regulators for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. Our initial study identified miR-663 as one of the most sharply downregulated miRNAs in human proliferative aortic smooth muscle cells. Hypothesis MiR-663 is implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch and the development of neointima formation. Methods and Results By using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), we found that microRNA-663 (miR-663) was significantly downregulated in cultured human aortic VSMCs upon platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment, whereas its expression was markedly increased during VSMC differentiation as induced by either retinoid acid or SMC differentiation medium, a condition which induces SMC differentiation and inhibits cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-663 significantly increased the expression of VSMC differentiation marker genes, such as SM22α, SM α-action, calponin, and SM myosin heavy chain, suggesting that miR-663 is a novel modulator implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch. Moreover, miR-663 potently inhibited PDGF induced VSMC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we identified JunB as a downstream target of miR-663 in human VSMCs. Indeed, overexpression of miR-663 markedly inhibited the expression of the transcription factor JunB as well as its downstream molecules including matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and myosin light chain-9 (Myl9), thus inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration. Finally, we showed that adeno-miR-663 markedly suppressed the neointimal lesion formation by approximately 50% in mice after vascular injury induced by carotid artery ligation, specifically via decreased JunB expression. Conclusion These results indicate that miR-663 is a novel modulator implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch through targeting JunB expression and suggest that specific modulation of miR-663 in human VSMCs may represent a novel and attractive approach for the treatment of vascular proliferative diseases.


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