Doxycycline modulates smooth muscle cell growth, migration, and matrix remodeling after arterial injury

The tetracyclines function as antibiotics by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, but recent work has shown that they are pluripotent drugs that affect many mammalian cell functions including proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and matrix remodeling. Because all of these processes have been implicated in arterial intimal lesion development, the objective of these studies was to examine the effect of doxycycline treatment using a well-characterized model of neointimal thickening, balloon catheter denudation of the rat carotid artery. Rats were treated with 30-mg/kg/day doxycycline. Doxycycline reduced the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in the arterial wall, and inhibited smooth muscle cell migration from media to intima by 77% at 4 days after balloon injury. Replication of smooth muscle cells in the intima at 7 days was reduced from 28.3 plus minus 2.5% in controls to 17.0 +/- 2.8% in doxycycline-treated rats. The synthesis of elastin and collagen was not affected, but accumulation of elastin was blocked in the doxycycline-treated rats. By contrast, collagen accumulation was not affected, which led to the formation of a more collagen-rich intima. At 28 days after injury, the intimal:medial ratio was significantly reduced from 1.67 +/- 0.09 in control rats to 1.36 +/- 0.06 in the doxycycline-treated rats. This study shows that doxycycline is an effective inhibitor of cell proliferation, migration, and MMP activity in vivo. Further study in more complicated models of atherosclerosis and restenosis is warranted.     

Upregulation of collagen VIII following porcine coronary artery angioplasty is related to smooth muscle cell migration not angiogenesis

Type VIII collagen is upregulated after vessel injury, and this collagen has been implicated in both smooth muscle cell migration and angiogenesis. This study examines the temporal and spatial pattern of expression of type VIII collagen in porcine coronary vessels at specific time points after balloon angioplasty. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that collagen VIII messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was markedly elevated in the neoadventitia at 3 days post-angioplasty. By 14 days, elevated collagen VIII message was seen mainly in the neointima and this expression decreased to background levels by 90 days. The distribution of collagen VIII protein, detected using immunohistochemistry, was similar but the up-regulation lagged behind the mRNA increase by a few days. Pre-treatment of sections with pepsin highlighted variations in the organization and appearance of extracellular collagen VIII containing structures in both injured and normal vessels.New vessel formation was evident in the neoadventitia after 3 days, but there was no colocalization of type VIII collagen immunostaining with that of von Willebrand factor (a marker of endothelial cells) in the neoadventitia.These data show that up-regulation of collagen VIII in the neoadventitia is an important early marker of the coronary arterial response to injury, and is not associated with new vessel formation.     

Adrenomedullin and adrenotensin regulate collagen synthesis and proliferation in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

To understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation and extracellular-matrix accumulation in the development of pulmonary hypertension and remodeling, this study determined the effects of different doses of adrenomedullin (ADM) and adrenotensin (ADT) on PASMC proliferation and collagen synthesis. The objective was to investigate whether extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling was involved in ADM- and ADT-stimulated proliferation of PASMCs in 4-week-old male Wistar rats (body weight: 100-150 g, n=10). The proliferation of PASMCs was examined by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. A cell growth curve was generated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 method. Expression of collagen I, collagen III, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) was evaluated by immunofluorescence. The effects of different concentrations of ADM and ADT on collagen I, collagen III, and p-ERK1/2 protein expression were determined by immunoblotting. We also investigated the effect of PD98059 inhibition on the expression of p-ERK1/2 protein by immunoblotting. ADM dose-dependently decreased cell proliferation, whereas ADT dose-dependently increased it; and ADM and ADT inhibited each other with respect to their effects on the proliferation of PASMCs. Consistent with these results, the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and p-ERK1/2 in rat PASMCs decreased after exposure to ADM but was upregulated after exposure to ADT. PD98059 significantly inhibited the downregulation by ADM and the upregulation by ADT of p-ERK1/2 expression. We conclude that ADM inhibited, and ADT stimulated, ERK1/2 signaling in rat PASMCs to regulate cell proliferation and collagen expression.     

Effect of calcium on cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis in arterial smooth muscle cells and dermal fibroblasts

The effect of calcium on cell proliferation and connective tissue formation was studied in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and dermal fibroblasts. Calcium deficiency caused a modest decrease in proliferation of smooth muscle cells but this effect was small compared to that previously observed with fibroblasts. Synthesis of connective tissue components was affected differently in the two cell types. Biosynthesis of proteoglycans was assessed by metabolic labeling of their glycosaminoglycan side chains. Different levels of extracellular calcium did not affect proteoglycan production by fibroblasts, but it was significantly reduced in smooth muscle cells incubated in calcium-deficient medium. Both smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts were able to produce appreciable amounts of collagen in the complete absence of calcium and in both cell types collagen synthesis was increased when calcium was present. Fibroblasts, however, showed a much smaller response to calcium than did smooth muscle cells. In fibroblasts the maximum rate of collagen synthesis was achieved in a narrow range of calcium concentration which was slightly below that found commonly in the tissue culture medium. By contrast, in smooth muscle cells the rate of collagen synthesis increased greatly when calcium was present and this elevated rate persisted even when the cells were exposed to high levels of extracellular calcium. We conclude that these findings may be of significance to the development of atherosclerotic lesions.     

alpha5beta1 integrin expression and luminal edge fibronectin matrix assembly by smooth muscle cells after arterial injury

Fibronectin is secreted from the cell as a soluble protein that must then polymerize to regulate cell function. To elucidate the process of fibronectin matrix assembly in vascular disease, we immunostained sections of balloon-injured rat carotid artery for the fibronectin-binding alpha5beta1 integrin. Whereas alpha5beta1 integrin was not evident in the normal carotid artery, its expression was induced after a vascular injury. By 14 days, the alpha5beta1 integrin was localized exclusively to the less differentiated smooth muscle cells (SMCs) at the luminal surface of the neointima. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB, dominant in neointimal formation, selectively increased the expression of the alpha5beta1 integrin by human SMCs in culture. To track the assembly of fibronectin fibers, fluorescence-labeled soluble fibronectin protomers were added to cultured SMCs and to fresh segments of normal and balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. Fibronectin fiber formation in cultured SMCs could be detected within 10 minutes, and was blocked by an RGD peptide, an anti-beta1 integrin antibody, and an anti-alpha5beta1 integrin antibody, but not by an anti-beta3 integrin antibody. En face confocal microscopy of arterial segments revealed that soluble fibronectin had polymerized on the alpha5beta1 integrin-expressing SMCs of the luminal surface of the injured arterial neointima, but not on the alpha5beta1 integrin-negative neointimal SMCs below this or on the endothelial cells of uninjured arteries. Furthermore, in situ fibronectin assembly by the neointimal SMCs was inhibited by an RGD peptide and by an anti-beta1 integrin antibody. These studies indicate that a subpopulation of SMCs in the repairing artery wall orchestrates integrin-mediated fibronectin assembly.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型受体拮抗剂抑制动脉损伤后中膜平滑肌细胞血小板源性生长因子的表达及细胞迁徙

目的： 研究球囊导管损伤后早期血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体（AT1）拮抗剂对损伤后大鼠动脉中膜平滑肌细胞血小板源性生长因子（PDGF）的表达及细胞迁徙影响。方法： 12周雄性Wistar大鼠颈动脉用球囊导管损伤，分成实验组和对照组，分别于术前2 d给予血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体拮抗剂CV-11974（5 mg·kg-1·d-1）和溶剂，术后2 d、3 d、5 d和14 d处死。用原位杂交、免疫组织化学和病理组织学进行研究。结果： 实验组术后第2 d、3 d和5 d中膜平滑肌细胞PDGF-A mRNA和PDGF-A、PDGF B、PDGF-α（R）、β（R）阳性细胞率以及迁徙率明显低于对照组（P<0.01）。实验组的中膜平滑肌细胞表型处于收缩型。结论： 血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体拮抗剂明显抑制损伤后动脉中膜平滑肌PDGF及其受体的表达和平滑肌迁徙。     

基质金属蛋白酶和胶原在创伤关节软骨组织中的表达

背景：研究发现,基质金属蛋白酶和胶原参与关节软骨组织机体生理重建及病理破坏。 目的：观察膝关节骨软骨缺损及表面软骨缺损动物模型关节软骨组织中胶原及基质金属蛋白酶的表达变化。 方法：雌性SD大鼠48只随机分为3组：骨软骨缺损组在双膝关节制作骨软骨缺损模型,表面缺损组在双膝关节制作表面软骨缺损,对照组双膝关节制作关节囊切开。分别于术后4、8、12周取股骨髁标本,行苏木精-伊红染色,免疫组化检测Ⅰ型胶原、Ⅱ型胶原、基质金属蛋白酶3的表达。 结果与结论：骨软骨缺损组术后4周缺损中有少量新生组织生成,8及12周可见到纤维组织填充,修复组织细胞外基质Ⅰ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阴性,关节软骨组织中基质金属蛋白酶3表达增高。表面缺损组表面软骨缺损4及8周未见修复迹象,12周可见微量纤维组织填充,细胞外基质Ⅰ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阴性,术后表面缺损组关节软骨组织基质金属蛋白酶3表达增高。对照组关节软骨组织Ⅰ型胶原免疫组化染色阴性,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性,基质金属蛋白酶3低表达,无形态学异常改变。说明机械性损伤可以导致关节软骨细胞外基质成分发生改变,丧失其原有的生物学特性而退变,基质金属蛋白酶3在损伤后的软骨组织中表达增高,使细胞外基质的降解增加,是导致关节软骨退变的重要因素。     

Effects of neurotrophins on human bronchial smooth muscle cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion

The neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) have been found to be upregulated in inflammatory pulmonary diseases, including asthma. The functional role for the neurotrophins in the airways is still not known, but it has been proposed that neurotrophins induce airway hyperreactivity and tissue remodeling. Bronchial smooth muscle cells have been suggested to be involved in the remodeling process through their capacity to proliferate, migrate, and secrete inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, we studied the effect of NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 on human bronchial smooth muscle cell (HBSMC) migration and MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion. Immunocytochemistry studies showed that HBSMCs expressed the neurotrophin receptors TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC. BDNF, NT-3, and NGF increased MMP-9, but not MMP-2, secretion as shown by zymography. BDNF and NT-3, but not NGF, stimulated HBSMC migration as evaluated by Boyden chamber. Taken together, our data indicate that the neurotrophins may stimulate events important for airway remodeling.     

Doxycycline alters vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion, migration, and reorganization of fibrillar collagen matrices

Remodeling of injured blood vessels is dependent on smooth muscle cells and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Doxycycline is a broad spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor that is under investigation for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes and aneurysms. In the present study, we examine the mechanisms by which doxycycline inhibits smooth muscle cell responses using a series of in vitro assays that mimic critical steps in pathological vascular remodeling. Doxycycline treatment dramatically increased smooth muscle cell adhesion to the substrate, as evidenced by interference reflection microscopy and immunostaining for paxillin and phosphotyrosine. Cell aggregation was also potentiated after treatment with doxycycline. Treatment with 104 mumol/L doxycycline reduced thymidine uptake by 58% compared with untreated cells (P < 0.05) and inhibited closure of a scrape wound made in a smooth muscle cell monolayer by 20% (P < 0.05). Contraction of a three-dimensional collagen gel was used as an in vitro model for constrictive vessel remodeling, demonstrating that treatment with 416 mumol/L doxycycline for 12 hours inhibited collagen gel remodeling by 37% relative to control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we have shown that doxycycline treatment leads to dramatically increased smooth muscle cell adhesion, which in turn might limit responses in pathological vascular remodeling.     

动脉内膜损伤后平滑肌细胞增殖与凋亡及相关基因表达

目的：探讨动脉内膜损伤后狭窄的发生机制。方法：用24只新西兰大白兔建立腹主动脉下端内膜损伤后狭窄模型，采用原位末端标记法（TUNEL）、免疫组化和原位杂交方法，检测增殖内膜中血管平滑肌（VSMCs）增殖、凋亡及相关基因c-fos、c-myc、p53和PCNA的表达。结果：术后1－2周PCNA达到高峰，与4周－12周组间差异有显著性（P＜0.05），TUNEL在术后4个月内保持低水平，损伤后4个月内VSMCs凋亡低于增殖水平。术后1－2周，c-fos、c-myc mRNA表达强阳性，在3个月后未见表达。p53只在1周内有弱阳性面其余各时间点未见表达。结论：VSMCs增殖和凋亡的失衡与动脉内膜损伤后狭窄密切相关，c-fos和c-myc参与了VSMCs凋亡和殖增的调节，抑制动脉内膜损伤后狭窄可采用调节增殖与凋亡平衡的联合策略。     

内皮素-1诱导培养的人肺动脉平滑肌细胞Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白及其mRNA表达

为研究内皮素-1(ET-1)对培养的人肺动脉平滑肌细胞(HPASMC)Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原合成的影响,应用贴块法培养人胎儿肺动脉平滑肌细胞,应用免疫细胞化学染色、原位杂交方法检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白及其mRNA的表达.结果显示,加入含10-8mol/L ET-1的培养液培养48h和72h后,HPASMC Ⅰ、Ⅲ型前胶原mRNA及其蛋白表达明显增强.提示ET-1能够诱导培养的人肺动脉平滑肌细胞Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原合成增加,其调控机制之一是在转录水平上增强了Ⅰ、Ⅲ型前胶原mRNA的表达.     

Emerging regulators of vascular smooth muscle cell migration

Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility - Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in the blood vessel wall and normally adopt a quiescent, contractile phenotype....     

Altered synthesis of collagen types in cultured arterial smooth muscle cells during phenotypic modulation by dimethyl sulfoxide

Synthetic activity of collagen types was examined in cultured arterial smooth muscle cells during modulation from synthetic to contractile phenotype by treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Smooth muscle cells of rabbit thoracic aorta cultured with a 1% supplement of DMSO for 8 days (DMSO group) predominantly exhibited cellular features of the contractile type with abundant microfilaments and a distinct basement membrane. Cultured cells in the DMSO group or in controls during stationary or subconfluent phase were labeled with [3H]proline for 24 h, and the samples including the cell layer and medium were analyzed. The incorporation of proline into bacterial collagenase-digestible fractions was increased slightly in the DMSO group. Type analysis of the collagenous protein by SDS-PAGE and subsequent fluorography disclosed a markedly increased ratio of type IV/I collagen and a slightly increased type V/I collagen ratio, as compared with those of controls. A decrease of type III collagen production in DMSO-treated cells probably due to their lower cell density was also recognized. From these biochemical and morphological observations, it is suggested that increased synthesis of minor collagen types, particularly type IV collagen, is closely associated with smooth muscle phenotypic expression following DMSO treatment. Similar cellular events may occur in smooth muscle cells migrating into the intima during the process of arteriosclerosis in vivo.     

Retinoic acid inhibits airway smooth muscle cell migration

Airway remodeling in chronic asthma is characterized by increased smooth muscle mass that is associated with the reduction of the bronchial lumen as well as airway hyperresponsiveness. The development of agents that inhibit smooth muscle growth is therefore of interest for therapy to prevent asthma-associated airway remodeling. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) suppresses growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from the systemic and pulmonary circulation. The present study investigated the effects of ATRA on human bronchial (airway) SMCs. Human bronchial SMCs were found to express mRNAs for retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha, -beta, -gamma, and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-alpha, -beta, but not RXR-gamma. Although ATRA was not effective in inhibiting proliferation or in inducing apoptosis in airway SMCs, we found that ATRA (0.2-2 microM) inhibited the SMC migration in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), as determined in a modified Boyden chamber assay. Both RAR and RXR agonists also blocked PDGF-induced airway SMC migration. ATRA also inhibited PDGF-induced actin reorganization associated with migration. PDGF-induced actin reorganization and migration were blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt. However, migration was blocked by inhibitors of the MEK/ERK pathway, with no effect on cytoskeletal reorganization. ATRA suppressed PDGF-induced Akt activation without influencing ERK activation. RAR was found to form protein-protein interactions with the p85 PI3K subunit. These results suggest that retinoic acid inhibits airway SMC migration through the modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Epithelium-derived chemokines induce airway smooth muscle cell migration

Background The remodelling of airway smooth muscle (ASM) associated with asthma severity may involve the migration of ASM cells towards the epithelium. However, little is known about the mechanisms of cell migration and the effect of epithelial-derived mediators on this process.
Objective The main objective of the current study is to assess the effects of epithelial-derived chemokines on ASM cell migration.
Methods Normal human ASM cells were incubated with supernatants from cells of the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. To induce chemokine production, epithelial cells were treated with TNF-α. Chemokine expression by epithelial cells was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA and membrane antibody array. To identify the role of individual chemokines in ASM cell migration, we performed migration assays with a modified Boyden chamber using specific neutralizing antibodies to block chemokine effects.
Results Supernatants from BEAS-2B cells treated with TNF-α increased ASM cell migration; migration was increased 1.6 and 2.5-fold by supernatant from BEAS-2B cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/mL TNF-α, respectively. Protein levels in supernatants and mRNA expression by BEAS-2B cells of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and IL-8 were significantly increased by 100 ng/mL TNF-α treatment. The incubation of supernatant with antibodies to RANTES or IL-8 significantly reduced ASM cell migration, and the combined antibodies further inhibited the cell migration. The migratory effects of supernatants and inhibiting effects of RANTES and/or IL-8 were confirmed also using NHBE cells.
Conclusion The results show that chemokines from airway epithelial cells cause ASM cell migration and might potentially play a role in the process of airway remodelling in asthma.     

Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on collagen synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase production in keloids

Keloids are pathologic proliferations of the dermal layer of the skin resulting from excessive collagen production and deposition. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increases the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and suppresses collagen synthesis to modulate extracellular matrix turnover. To investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of HGF, we examine the mRNA expression of collagen types I and III and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, MMP-3) on human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell lines and keloid fibroblasts (KFs, n = 5) after adding various amount of HGF protein. We also evaluated the enzymatic activity of MMP-2, MMP-9 by zymograghy. In HDFs treated with TGF-β1 and HGF protein simultaneously, both type I and III collagen mRNA expression significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 mRNA also decreased. However, the mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 significantly increased in KFs with increasing amount of HGF in dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). The enzymatic activities of MMP-2 increased with increasing HGF protein in a dose-dependent manner. However, the enzymatic activity of MMP-9 did not change. These results suggest that the anti-fibrotic effects of HGF may have therapeutic effects on keloids by reversing pathologic fibrosis.     

Stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell migration by macrophage migration inhibitory factor

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a well known proinflammatory factor that influences the migration and proliferation of various cell types, predominantly monocytes and macrophages. Recent evidence suggests an important role for MIF in the progression of atherosclerosis and restenosis. For this reason, we studied the effect of MIF on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced migration and PDGF receptor protein expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Furthermore, the possibility of MIF influencing the migration of VSMCs was investigated. Our results show that short-term incubation of MIF is able to enhance PDGF-BB-induced migration. Long-term incubation decreases PDGF-BB-induced migration, but preserves a short-term stimulatory effect. These effects are not regulated at the level of PDGF receptor protein expression. MIF also acts as a chemoattractant for VSMCs, with a maximum response at 15 ng/ml. In contrast, the proliferation of VSMCs was unaffected by MIF. We conclude that MIF has a biphasic effect on VSMC migration. It remains unclear whether this effect is direct or involves the secretion of unidentified promigratory factors. Exogenous MIF does not stimulate VSMC proliferation; however, a role for MIF in proliferation cannot be fully ruled out. In view of the known key contributions of macrophage-derived MIF and VSMCs, the observed effects may well play a role in the progression of atherosclerosis and restenosis.     

Cell adhesion peptides alter smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and matrix protein synthesis on modified surfaces and in polymer scaffolds

The effects of cell adhesion peptides (RGDS, KQAGDV, VAPG) on vascular smooth muscle cells grown on modified surfaces and in tissue-engineering scaffolds were examined. Cells were more strongly adhered to surfaces modified with adhesive ligands than to control surfaces (no ligand or a nonadhesive ligand). Cell migration was higher on surfaces with 0.2 nmol/cm(2) of adhesive ligand than on control surfaces, but it was lower on surfaces with 2.0 nmol/cm(2) of adhesive ligand than it was on control surfaces. Further, cell proliferation was lower on adhesive surfaces than it was on control surfaces, and it decreased as the ligand density increased. Similarly, in the peptide-grafted hydrogel scaffolds, cell proliferation was lower in scaffolds containing the adhesive peptides than it was in control scaffolds. After 7 days of culture, more collagen per cell was produced in control scaffolds than in scaffolds containing adhesive peptides. In addition, collagen production decreased in the scaffolds as the ligand concentration increased. While modification of a surface or scaffold material with adhesive ligands initially increases cell attachment, it may be necessary to optimize cell adhesion simultaneously with proliferation, migration, and matrix production.     

A morphologic and permeability study of luminal smooth muscle cells after arterial injury in the rat.

In the carotid air drying model of arterial endothelial injury in the stressed rat, endothelium does not always regenerate over the zone of intimal thickening; instead, a layer of modified smooth muscle cells appears to form a temporary luminal surface. We examined the properties of these luminal smooth muscle cells in injured right carotid arteries from stressed rats at intervals up to 2 months by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Before perfusion fixation, selected animals were given injections of Evans blue dye, ferritin, or horseradish peroxidase. Unlike adjacent endothelium, the luminal smooth muscle cells most closely resembled neighboring intimal smooth muscle cells, lacked morphologic characteristics of normal endothelium, and did not stain with rabbit antibody to rat factor viii. Unlike normal mature endothelium, this layer did not exclude horseradish peroxidase, Evans blue, or ferritin. These data demonstrate that a nonthrombogenic layer composed of modified smooth muscle cells can appear at the luminal surface of a zone of injury-induced myointimal thickening; however, this layer does not form a permeability barrier to large molecules.