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Ma Y, Ye S, Sun K, Gu Y. Effect of curcumin nanoparticles on proliferation and migration of mouse airway smooth muscle cells and airway inflammatory infiltration. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1344333. [PMID: 38708080 PMCID: PMC11066239 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1344333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Curcumin (CUR) possesses the capability to inhibit various inflammatory factors, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and alleviate asthma attacks; however, its hydrophobicity and instability significantly impede its clinical application. In this study, we synthesized CUR-loaded nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) and evaluated their impact on the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration of mouse airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), while investigating their underlying mechanisms. To achieve this objective, ASMCs were isolated from BALB/c mice and subjected to TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings demonstrate that CUR-NPs effectively regulate the release of CUR within cells with superior intracellular uptake compared to free CUR. The CCK-8 assay results indicate that the blank carrier does not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on cells, thus rendering the impact of the carrier itself negligible. The TGF-β1 group exhibited a significant increase in cell proliferation, whereas treatment with CUR-NPs significantly suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation. The findings from both the cell scratch assay and transwell assay demonstrated that TGF-β1 substantially enhanced cell migration, while CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated TGF-β1-induced cell migration. The Western blot analysis demonstrated a substantial increase in the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-STAT3, and CTGF in ASMCs following treatment with TGF-β1 when compared to the control group. Nevertheless, this effect was effectively counteracted upon administration of CUR-NPs. Furthermore, an asthma mouse model was successfully established and CUR-NPs were administered through tail vein injection. The serum levels of TGF-β1 and the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-STAT3, and CTGF proteins in the lung tissue of mice in the model group exhibited significant increases compared to those in the control group. However, CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated this change. Our research findings suggest that CUR-NPs possess inhibitory effects on ASMC proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration by suppressing activation of the TGF-β1/p-STAT3/CTGF signaling pathway, thereby facilitating inhibition of airway remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucong Ma
- Department of Pediatric Respiration, Children’s Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Suping Ye
- Department of Reparatory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Kunpeng Sun
- Department of Reparatory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yue Gu
- Department of Reparatory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Shoda T, Rochman M, Collins MH, Caldwell JM, Mack LE, Osswald GA, Mukkada VA, Putnam PE, Rothenberg ME. Molecular analysis of duodenal eosinophilia. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:1027-1039. [PMID: 36592704 PMCID: PMC10102870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.12.814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eosinophilic duodenitis (EoD), characterized by nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms and increased numbers of duodenal eosinophils, may be in the eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease spectrum. However, diagnostic thresholds and pathogenic processes of duodenal tissue eosinophilia are inadequately characterized. OBJECTIVE We aimed to define an EoD transcriptome and pathologic pathways. METHODS RNA sequencing and histologic features of human duodenal biopsy samples were analyzed as a function of duodenal eosinophils levels. For analyses, we defined EoD as more than 52 peak eosinophils/hpf (n = 8), duodenal eosinophilia as 30 to 52 eosinophils/hpf (n = 11), and normal controls as fewer than 30 eosinophils/hpf (n = 8). Associations between gene expression and histologic features were analyzed with Spearman correlation. RESULTS We identified 382 differentially expressed genes (EoD transcriptome) between EoD and normal controls (>2-fold change [adjusted P < .05]). The EoD transcriptome distinguished EoD from controls (duodenal eosinophilia and normal controls). The duodenal eosinophil count was correlated with a distinct EoD transcriptome when 50 to 60 peak eosinophils/hpf were present. The EoD transcriptome was enriched in genes involved in IL-4/IL-13 signaling, mast cells, and myeloid progenitor cells. Among duodenal histologic features, lamina propria eosinophil sheets was the most associated with transcriptomic changes (r = 0.66; P < .01). EoD gene signatures were shared with eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic gastritis but not with eosinophilic colitis or celiac disease. CONCLUSION We have identified an EoD transcriptomic signature that emerges at 50 to 60 peak eosinophils/hpf and established EoD as part of a spectrum of upper eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder associated with type 2 immunity and distinct from eosinophilic colitis and celiac disease. These findings provide a basis for improving diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Shoda
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mark Rochman
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Margaret H Collins
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Julie M Caldwell
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Lydia E Mack
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Garrett A Osswald
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Vincent A Mukkada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Philip E Putnam
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Marc E Rothenberg
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Bozkurt HB, Yayla M, Binnetoglu D, Evran M. The Association of Passive Smoking and Serum Urotensin-II Levels in Children. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20201488. [PMID: 35830081 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220201488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Urotensin-II (UT-II) is the most powerful vasoconstrictor agent and is known to play a role in heart failure, diabetes, pulmonary hypertension and asthma. The effect of passive smoking on UT-II levels is unknown. The present study aims to evaluate serum UT-II levels in children exposed to passive smoke. The study included a total of 120 children; 47 children not exposed to passive smoke were included in Group 1 (control group), and 73 children exposed to passive smoke were included in Group 2. Serum samples of the participants were stored at -80 °C after centrifugation and were assessed at least two times with high-precision human ELISA kits. Serum UT-II levels were significantly higher in the children exposed to passive smoke than in the children not exposed. Furthermore, Group 2 was grouped according to the number of cigarettes smoked at home per day, type of passive smoking (second-hand smoke or third-hand smoke), and how many people in their family and/or living together smoked. There was a positive correlation between the number of cigarettes they were exposed to per day and serum UT-II levels. Passive smoking in childhood may be associated with high serum UT-II levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayrunnisa Bekis Bozkurt
- Şehitler District, Turan Çelik Street, 1, Kafkas University Health Research and Application Center Campus, Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Kars, Turkey, 36100
| | - Muhammed Yayla
- Şehitler District, Turan Çelik Street, 2, Kafkas University Health Research and Application Center Campus, Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kars, Turkey, 36100
| | - Damla Binnetoglu
- Şehitler District, Turan Çelik Street, 2, Kafkas University Health Research and Application Center Campus, Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kars, Turkey, 36100
| | - Multehan Evran
- Süleyman Demirel District, Fatih Street, 4, Harran District Health of Directorate, Harran, Şanlı Urfa, Turkey, 63510
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Avagimyan A, Kajaia A, Gabunia L, Ghambashidze K, Sulashvili N, Ratiani L, Heshmat-Ghahdarijani K, Sheibani M, Aznauryan A. Urotensin-II As a Promising Key-Point of Cardiovascular Disturbances Sequel. Curr Probl Cardiol 2021; 47:101074. [PMID: 34848248 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.101074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Arterial hypertension is a highly urgent problem of modern medicine since the crisis of blood pressure control remains open, due to the increasing number of uncontrolled arterial hypertension. Today, one of the most critical problems of cardiology is the study of the mechanisms of development and progression of arterial hypertension. Therefore, our international and multidisciplinary working group presents a vision of a new therapeutic target - urotensin II in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. Thus, this article reflects the concept of the Armenian, Georgian and Iranian medical schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashot Avagimyan
- Department of Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Morphology, Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi, Republic of Armenia.
| | - Albina Kajaia
- Pharmacology Department, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Luiza Gabunia
- Pharmacology Department, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - Nodar Sulashvili
- Pharmacology Department, Tbilisi Open University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Levan Ratiani
- Director of the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - Mohammad Sheibani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Artashes Aznauryan
- Histology Department, Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
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Correlation study between the pharmacokinetics of seven main active ingredients of Mahuang decoction and its pharmacodynamics in asthmatic rats. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020; 183:113144. [PMID: 32070931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of seven main active components of Mahuang decoction (MHD) and its time-concentration-effect relationship. The asthmatic rat model was established by the method of ovalbumin (OVA) sensttization. The plasma concentrations of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, amygdalin, liquiritin, cinnamic acid, glycyrrhizic acid in asthmatic model rat were investigated by a selective and rapid HPLC/MS-MS method. Simultaneously, the asthma-involved cytokines including leukotrienes B4 (LTB4), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-Keto-Prostaglandin F1α (6-K-PGF1α) and histamine (HIS) levels in rat plasma were determined by using ELISA. A mathematics method was applied to assess the trend of percentage rate of change among different time intervals of the seven components. The sigmoid E max function was used to establish the PK-PD modeling of MHD. The results indicated that MHD could control or ameliorate asthma. There was a hysteresis between the peaked drug concentration and maximum therapeutic effect of MHD. The PK-PD curves of MHD showed clockwise or counter-clockwise hysteresis loop. In addition, amygdalin might exert a more significant influence on regulating cytokines levels in asthmatic rats among the seven components of MHD.
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Jia XX, Zhu TT, Huang Y, Zeng XX, Zhang H, Zhang WX. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates asthma airway remodeling by influencing the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1 via the p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. Exp Ther Med 2019; 18:3431-3438. [PMID: 31602218 PMCID: PMC6777302 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway remodeling is the main characteristic of asthma; however, the mechanisms underlying this pathophysiological change have not been fully elucidated. Previous studies have indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway are involved in the development of airway remodeling during asthma. Therefore, the present study established an airway remodeling rat model, after which β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc protein expressions were analyzed via western blotting in the lung tissue and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of rats. The mRNA expression of the aforementioned proteins were evaluated via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc are core transcription factors and target genes of the Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 protein expression were determined following blocking of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in vitro. The results demonstrated that higher expressions of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc were detected in lung tissues and ASMCs in the asthma group compared with the control. Blocking the p38 MAPK signaling pathway with a specific inhibitor SB203580 also downregulated the expressions of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc in vitro. Taken together, these results indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may regulate the process of airway remodeling via the p38 MAPK-dependent pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xiao Jia
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Ting-Ting Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Xin Zeng
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Xi Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P.R. China
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Castel H, Desrues L, Joubert JE, Tonon MC, Prézeau L, Chabbert M, Morin F, Gandolfo P. The G Protein-Coupled Receptor UT of the Neuropeptide Urotensin II Displays Structural and Functional Chemokine Features. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:76. [PMID: 28487672 PMCID: PMC5403833 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The urotensinergic system was previously considered as being linked to numerous physiopathological states, including atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, diabetes, renal disease, as well as brain vascular lesions. Thus, it turns out that the actions of the urotensin II (UII)/G protein-coupled receptor UT system in animal models are currently not predictive enough in regard to their effects in human clinical trials and that UII analogs, established to target UT, were not as beneficial as expected in pathological situations. Thus, many questions remain regarding the overall signaling profiles of UT leading to complex involvement in cardiovascular and inflammatory responses as well as cancer. We address the potential UT chemotactic structural and functional definition under an evolutionary angle, by the existence of a common conserved structural feature among chemokine receptorsopioïdergic receptors and UT, i.e., a specific proline position in the transmembrane domain-2 TM2 (P2.58) likely responsible for a kink helical structure that would play a key role in chemokine functions. Even if the last decade was devoted to the elucidation of the cardiovascular control by the urotensinergic system, we also attempt here to discuss the role of UII on inflammation and migration, likely providing a peptide chemokine status for UII. Indeed, our recent work established that activation of UT by a gradient concentration of UII recruits Gαi/o and Gα13 couplings in a spatiotemporal way, controlling key signaling events leading to chemotaxis. We think that this new vision of the urotensinergic system should help considering UT as a chemotactic therapeutic target in pathological situations involving cell chemoattraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Castel
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
- *Correspondence: Hélène Castel,
| | - Laurence Desrues
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
| | - Jane-Eileen Joubert
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
| | - Marie-Christine Tonon
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- CNRS UMR 5203, INSERM U661, Institute of Functional Genomic (IGF), University of Montpellier 1 and 2, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Chabbert
- UMR CNRS 6214, INSERM 1083, Faculté de Médecine 3, Angers, France
| | - Fabrice Morin
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
| | - Pierrick Gandolfo
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, DC2N, Rouen, France
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen, France
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Portnoy A, Kumar S, Behm DJ, Mahar KM, Noble RB, Throup JP, Russ SF. Effects of Urotensin II Receptor Antagonist, GSK1440115, in Asthma. Front Pharmacol 2013; 4:54. [PMID: 23641215 PMCID: PMC3638148 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2013.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Urotensin II (U-II) is highly expressed in the human lung and has been implicated in regulating respiratory physiology in preclinical studies. Our objective was to test antagonism of the urotensin (UT) receptor by GSK1440115, a novel, competitive, and selective inhibitor of the UT receptor, as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of asthma. Methods: Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of single doses of GSK1440115 (1–750 mg) were assessed in a Phase I, placebo controlled study in 70 healthy subjects. In a Phase Ib study, 12 asthmatic patients were randomized into a two-period, single-blind crossover study and treated with single doses of 750 mg GSK1440115 or placebo and given a methacholine challenge. Results: Administration of GSK1440115 was safe and well-tolerated in healthy subjects and asthmatic patients. In both studies, there was a high degree of variability in the observed PK following oral dosing with GSK1440115 at all doses. There was a marked food effect in healthy subjects at the 50 mg dose. In the presence of food at the 750 mg dose, the time to maximal concentration was between 2 and 6 h and the terminal half-life was short at approximately 2 h. All asthmatic patients maintained greater than the predicted concentration levels necessary to achieve predicted 96% receptor occupancy for ≥3 h (between 4 and 7 h post-dose). There were no apparent trends or relationships between the systemic plasma exposure of GSK1440115 and pharmacodynamic endpoints, PC20 after methacholine challenge and FEV1, in asthmatics. Conclusion: While GSK1440115 was safe and well-tolerated, it did not induce bronchodilation in asthmatics, or protect against methacholine-induced bronchospasm, suggesting that acute UT antagonism is not likely to provide benefit as an acute bronchodilator in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Portnoy
- Virtual Proof of Concept Discovery Performance Unit GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA, USA
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Zhao J, Ding W, Song N, Dong X, Di B, Peng F, Tang C. Urotensin II-induced collagen synthesis in cultured smooth muscle cells from rat aortic media and a possible involvement of transforming growth factor-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 182:53-8. [PMID: 23403244 DOI: 10.1016/j.regpep.2012.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that urotensin II (UII) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) both have critical roles in vascular remodeling. UII is a recently discovered vasoconstrictive peptide that is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, restenosis and hypertension. TGF-β1 is an important factor that has a pivotal role in vascular fibrosis. This study aimed to explore whether TGF-β1 is involved in UII-induced collagen synthesis in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and examined the effects and mechanisms of UII on collagen synthesis and secretion in VSMCs. METHODS VSMCs were prepared by the explant culture method. TGF-β1 and collagen I secretions from the cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1, collagen I, Smad2 and Smad3 were determined using Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS UII dose-dependently promoted TGF-β1 protein expression and secretion from VSMCs, with maximal effect at 10(-8) mol/l at 24 h for protein expression and 10(-7) mol/l at 24 h for protein secretion (both P<0.01). Moreover, UII dose-dependently promoted Smad2 and Smad3 mRNA expression in VSMCs, with maximal effect at 10(-8) mol/l for 12 h (both P<0.01). The effects of UII were significantly inhibited by its receptor antagonists urantide (10(-6) mol/l) or SB-710411 (10(-6) mol/l), and by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) inhibitor PD98059 (10(-6) mol/l). UII dose-dependently promoted collagen I mRNA expression and protein secretion in VSMCs, with maximal effect at 10(-8) mol/l at 12h for mRNA expression and 10(-6) mol/l at 24 h for protein secretion (both P<0.01). Collagen synthesis and secretion from VSMCs induced by UII were inhibited significantly by a TGF-β1-specific neutralizing antibody, SB-431542 (an antagonist of the TGF-β1 type II receptor) and PD98059 (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that UII could induce collagen synthesis and secretion through upregulation of TGF-β1 expression and secretion in VSMCs, and that TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling might be one of the important pathways by which UII is involved in vascular fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, PR China
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