RXR激动剂通过抑制PKC激活对抗高糖诱导的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖

 目的:探讨视黄醇类X受体 (RXR)激动剂对高糖诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞(RASMCs)增殖的影响及其作用机制。方法:体外组织块干涸法培养RASMCs，以25 mmol/L葡萄糖干预，模拟糖尿病患者体内环境，通过WST-1法检测细胞增殖活性，BrdU插入法测定细胞DNA合成，流式细胞术检测细胞周期进程。用免疫印迹杂交方法检测细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶2(CDK2)、细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶抑制物p27Kip1的蛋白表达及蛋白激酶C (PKC)的磷酸化水平。结果:(1) 在高糖环境(葡萄糖终浓度为25 mmol/L)下，RASMCs的增殖活性、DNA合成速率及其在细胞周期S期的分布比例均显著增加；(2) 高糖显著增加RASMCs内CDK2蛋白的表达，但明显降低p27Kip1的蛋白表达水平；(3) RXR天然配体9-顺式维甲酸(9-cis-RA)可显著抑制高糖诱导的RASMCs增殖活性增强、DNA合成加速及RASMCs在细胞周期S期分布比例的增加幅度，且具有浓度依赖性；10-7mol/L浓度的SR11237(RXR特异性配体)与等浓度的9-cis-RA具有相似的抑制效应；(4) 9-cis-RA 和SR11237均可显著抑制高糖诱导的CDK2蛋白表达水平的增加幅度，同时上调高糖环境下p27Kip1蛋白的表达；(5) PKC抑制剂(PKC inhibitor peptide, 20 μmol/L)显著抑制高糖环境下RASMCs的增殖活性和CDK2蛋白的表达，但明显增加高糖条件下p27Kip1蛋白的表达；(6) 9-cis-RA 和SR11237可抑制高糖诱导的PKC蛋白磷酸化。结论: PKC的活化参与了高糖诱导下RASMCs的增殖过程。RXR激动剂通过抑制PKC活化对抗高糖诱导的血管平滑肌细胞增殖。

Retinoid X receptor agonists antagonize high-glucose-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells by inactivation of protein kinase C

AIM: To explore the effect of retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists on high-glucose-induced proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). METHODS: RASMCs were cultured in DMEM containing glucose at normal concentration (5.5 mmol/L). For high glucose treatment, glucose solution was added up to a final concentration of 25 mmol/L. The proliferation of RASMCs was detected by WST-1 assay. DNA synthesis was measured by the method of BrdU incorporation. Cell cycle progression was determined by flow cytometry. Phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC) and the expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 2(CDK2) and p27Kip1 were detected by immunoblotting. RESULTS: High glucose increased DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, the expression of CDK2 and the proliferation of RASMCs. Meanwhile, the expression of p27Kip1 was decreased by high glucose. Treatment of RASMCs with RXR natural ligand 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) resulted in significant inhibition of high-glucose-induced proliferation, DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression and the expression of CDK2 in a concentration-dependent manner. 9-cis-RA also reversed the effect of high glucose on the expression of p27Kip1. RXR specific ligand SR11237 demonstrated the same effect as the effect of 9-cis-RA at the same concentration. PKC inhibitor showed the similar effect on high-glucose-induced proliferation and the expression of CDK2 and p27Kip1 as the RXR agonists did. Furthermore, 9-cis-RA and SR11237 rapidly inhibited high-glucose-induced activation of PKC. CONCLUSION: PKC is involved in high-glucose-induced proliferation of RASMCs. RXR agonists inhibit high-glucose-induced proliferation by depressing PKC activation in vascular smooth muscle cells.