PDGF receptor inhibition prevents cardiac allograft arteriosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits

Bone Morphogenic Protein 4-Smad–Induced Upregulation of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor AA Impairs Endothelial Function

Objective—

Bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) is an important mediator of endothelial dysfunction in cardio-metabolic diseases, whereas platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are major angiogenic and proinflammatory mediator, although the functional link between these 2 factors is unknown. The present study investigated whether PDGF mediates BMP4-induced endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Approach and Results—

We generated Ad-Bmp4 to overexpress Bmp4 and Ad-Pdgfa-shRNA to knockdown Pdgfa in mice through tail intravenous injection. SMAD4-shRNA lentivirus, SMAD1-shRNA, and SMAD5 shRNA adenovirus were used for knockdown in human and mouse endothelial cells. We found that PDGF-AA impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in aortas and mesenteric resistance arteries. BMP4 upregulated PDGF-AA in human and mouse endothelial cells, which was abolished by BMP4 antagonist noggin or knockdown of SMAD1/5 or SMAD4. BMP4-impared relaxation in mouse aorta was also ameliorated by PDGF-AA neutralizing antibody. Tail injection of Ad-Pdgfa-shRNA ameliorates endothelial dysfunction induced by Bmp4 overexpression (Ad-Bmp4) in vivo. Serum PDGF-AA was elevated in both diabetic patients and diabetic db/db mice compared with nondiabetic controls. Pdgfa-shRNA or Bmp4-shRNA adenovirus reduced serum PDGF-AA concentration in db/db mice. PDGF-AA neutralizing antibody or tail injection with Pdgfa-shRNA adenovirus improved endothelial function in aortas and mesenteric resistance arteries from db/db mice. The effect of PDGF-AA on endothelial function in mouse aorta was also inhibited by Ad-Pdgfra-shRNA to inhibit PDGFRα.

Conclusions—

The present study provides novel evidences to show that PDGF-AA impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation and PDGF-AA mediates BMP4-induced adverse effect on endothelial cell function through SMAD1/5- and SMAD4-dependent mechanisms. Inhibition of PGDF-AA ameliorates vascular dysfunction in diabetic mice.

Inhibition of TNF-alpha reduces transplant arteriosclerosis in a murine aortic transplant model

Experimental and clinical data provide evidence that TNF-alpha contributes to acute and chronic allograft rejection. In this study, we explored the effect of TNF-alpha blockade using the chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab on the development of transplant arterisoclerosis in a fully mismatched aortic allograft model. Post-transplant treatment of CBA (H2(k)) recipients with 250 mug infliximab (cumulative dose 1.25 mg) reduced luminal occlusion of C57Bl/6 (H2(b)) aortic grafts on day 30 from 77 +/- 5% in untreated controls to 52 +/- 6%. Increasing the dose of anti-TNF-alpha antibody had no further beneficial effect. Treatment with human control immunoglobulin had no effect on intima proliferation. Under TNF-alpha blockade, ICAM-1 and PDGF mRNA expression within the grafts was strongly reduced, whereas iNOS expression was enhanced. The data show that TNF-alpha blockade using infliximab can reduce the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in fully mismatched murine aortic grafts.

PDGF and cardiovascular disease

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was identified in a search for serum factors that stimulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. During the development of lesions of atherosclerosis that can ultimately lead to vessel occlusion, SMC are stimulated by inflammatory factors to migrate from their normal location in the media. They accumulate within the forming lesion where they contribute to lesion expansion by proliferation and deposition of extracellular matrix. Different genetic manipulations in vascular cells combined with various inhibitory strategies have provided strong evidence for PDGF playing a prominent role in the migration of SMC into the neointima following acute injury and in atherosclerosis. Other activities of PDGF identified in vivo suggest additional functions for PDGF in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

Upregulation of PAI-1 is mediated through TGF-beta/Smad pathway in transplant arteriopathy

BACKGROUND

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is the primary physiologic inhibitor of plasminogen activator in vivo. Increased PAI-1 expression is associated with arteriosclerosis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces PAI-1 production via Smads.

METHODS

In vivo, TGF-beta receptors (TbetaRs), Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4, PAI-1, and Smad2 phosphorylation were examined by immunohistochemistry in 3 native aortas, 14 rat aortic syngrafts, and 19 allografts collected at 15, 30, and 45 days post-transplantation. In vitro, phosphorylation of Smad2 and induction of PAI-1 mRNA in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in response to TGF-beta treatment were detected by Western blot and by TaqMan real-time RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining revealed that vascular parenchymal cells contained TbetaRI, TbetaRII, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4, known signaling transducers for TGF-beta/Smad pathway, in all samples. Intense staining for phospho-Smad2 was observed in 94% of endothelial cells (ECs), 86% of intimal cells, 27% of medial SMCs, and 38% of adventitial cells at all 3 time points in all aortic allografts, but only in 5% of ECs in syngrafts. PAI-1 immunoreactivity was detected in similar number of cells, and from consecutive sections, phospho-Smad2 colocalized with PAI-1, in the aortic allografts. Low basal level PAI-1 expression was observed in aortic syngrafts and native vessels. Smad2 phosphorylation and time-dependent PAI-1 induction were detected in cultured SMCs upon TGF-beta treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Phospho-Smad2 staining in aortic allografts indicates the activation of TGF-beta signaling in allo-transplantation; and co-localization of PAI-1 and phospho-Smad2 suggests that PAI-1 upregulation is mediated mainly by TGF-beta/Smad pathway in aortic allografts.