Nurminskaya M, Beazley KE, Smith EP, Belkin AM. Transglutaminase 2 promotes PDGF-mediated activation of PDGFR/Akt1 and β-catenin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells and supports neointima formation.
J Vasc Res 2015;
51:418-28. [PMID:
25612735 DOI:
10.1159/000369461]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) accompanies neointima formation and associates with vascular diseases. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced activation of PDGFR/Akt1 and β-catenin signaling pathways in VSMCs has been implicated in vessel occlusion. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) regulates these pathways and its levels are increased in the neointima.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of TG2 in PDGF/β-catenin signaling cross-talk and assess its contribution to neointima.
METHODS
Aortic VSMCs from wild-type and TG2 knockout mice were tested in vitro for levels of VSMC markers, proliferation, migration and PDGF-induced activation of PDGFR/Akt1 and β-catenin pathways. Neointima in these mice was studied ex vivo in coronary vessels using a heart slice model and in vivo using a carotid artery ligation model.
RESULTS
Genetic deletion of TG2 attenuated the PDGF-induced phenotypic switch of aortic VSMCs, reduced their proliferation and migration rates, and inhibited PDGF-induced activation of PDGFR/Akt1 and β-catenin pathways in both ex vivo and in vivo neointima models. Importantly, genetic deletion of TG2 also markedly attenuated vessel occlusion.
CONCLUSIONS
TG2 promotes neointima formation by mediating the PDGF-induced activation of the PDGFR/Akt1 and β-catenin pathways in VSMCs. This study identifies TG2 as a potential therapeutic target for blocking neointima in blood vessels.
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