Multiple enhancer elements mediate induction of c-fos in vascular smooth muscle cells

SSeCKS gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells: regulation by angiotensin II and a potential role in the regulation of PAI-1 gene expression

Rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASM) express the src suppressed C-kinase substrate (SSeCKS), which is thought to be an integral regulatory component of cytoskeletal dynamics and G-protein coupled-receptor signaling modules. The specific sub-classes of growth factor receptors that regulate the genomic changes in SSeCKS expression in smooth muscle cells have not been characterized. In this study we identify SSeCKS as an angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor-dependent target gene in RASM cells treated with angiotensin II (Ang II). SSeCKS mRNA levels increase up to three-fold relative to the control within 3.5 h of Ang II treatment and are followed by a slight decrease of mRNA relative to the control levels after 24 h of stimulation. SSeCKS gene expression and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene expression correlate in RASM cells treated with Ang II. By co-transfecting plasmids bearing recombinant-SSeCKS and a PAI-1-promoter/luciferase reporter into Cos-1 cells, we show that alternative forms of recombinant-SSeCKS protein differentially influence PAI-1 promoter activity. These data indicate a biochemical linkage between SSeCKS activity and one or more of the cytoplasmic signaling pathways that are involved in the control of PAI-1 promoter activity. Finally, we show that the alternative forms of recombinant-SSeCKS protein differentially influence cell-spreading when ectopically expressed in ras -transformed rat kidney (KNRK) fibroblasts. Taken together, our data suggest that SSeCKS interacts with intracellular signaling pathways that control cytoskeletal remodeling and extracellular matrix remodeling following Ang II stimulation of the RASM cell.

Synergistic effect of adrenal steroids and angiotensin II on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production

Recent data suggest an interaction between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and fibrinolysis. Although previous work has focused on the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) expression, the present study tests the hypothesis that aldosterone contributes to the regulation of PAI-1 expression. To test this hypothesis in vitro, luciferase reporter constructs containing the human PAI-1 promoter were transfected into rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Exposure of the cells to 100 nmol/L Ang II resulted in a 3-fold increase in luciferase activity. Neither 1 micromol/L dexamethasone nor 1 micromol/L aldosterone alone increased PAI-1 expression. However, both dexamethasone and aldosterone enhanced the effect of Ang II in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was abolished by mutation in the region of a putative glucocorticoid-responsive element. A similar interactive effect of Ang II and aldosterone was observed in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The time course of the effect of aldosterone on Ang II-induced PAI-1 expression was consistent with a classical mineralocorticoid receptor mechanism, and the effect of aldosterone on PAI-1 synthesis was attenuated by spironolactone. To determine whether aldosterone affected PAI-1 expression in vivo, we measured local venous PAI-1 antigen concentrations in six patients with primary hyperaldosteronism undergoing selective adrenal vein sampling. PAI-1 antigen, but not tissue plasminogen activator antigen, concentrations were significantly higher in adrenal venous blood than in peripheral venous blood. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that aldosterone modulates the effect of Ang II on PAI-1 expression in vitro and in vivo in humans.

Sp1 sites mediate activation of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 promoter by glucose in vascular smooth muscle cells

This study was designed to characterize the direct effects of hyperglycemia on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Glucose induced dose- and time-dependent increases of PAI-1 mRNA expression in rat aortic smooth muscle (RASM) cells in vitro. Using a series of luciferase reporter gene constructs containing PAI-1 5'-flanking sequence (from -6.4 kilobase to -42 base pairs (bp)) transfected into RASM, we found that glucose (25 mM) consistently induced a 4-fold increase in luciferase activity, with the response localized to sequence between -85 and -42 bp. Mutagenesis of two putative Sp1-binding sites located in the region of interest essentially obliterated the glucose-response. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with radiolabeled oligonucleotides containing the two putative Sp1-binding sites from PAI-1 promoter and nuclear extracts from RASM cells revealed that glucose treatment markedly changed the mobility pattern of the major protein-DNA complexes. Supershift assay showed that transcription factor Sp1 was present in the complexes under control and hyperglycemic conditions. These results suggest that glucose regulates PAI-1 gene expression in RASM cells through an effect on two adjacent Sp1 sites located between -85 and -42 bp of the PAI-1 5'-flanking region and that the release of a transcriptional repressor from the Sp1 complexes may explain the activation of the PAI-1 gene under high glucose conditions in RASM cells.