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Teng L, Qin Q, Zhou ZY, Zhou F, Cao CY, He C, Ding JW, Yang J. Role of C/EBP Homologous Protein in Vascular Stenosis After Carotid Artery Injury. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10713-9. [PMID: 38526708 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The study aims to explore the fluctuating expression of C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP) following rat carotid artery injury and its central role in vascular stenosis. Using in vivo rat carotid artery injury models and in vitro ischemia and hypoxia cell models employing human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (T/G HA-VSMCs), a comprehensive investigative framework was established. Histological analysis confirmed intimal hyperplasia in rat models. CHOP expression in vascular tissues was assessed using Western blot and immunohistochemical staining, and its presence in HAECs and T/G HA-VSMCs was determined through RT-PCR and Western blot. The study evaluated HAEC apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine secretion, cell proliferation, and T/G HA-VSMCs migration through Western blot, ELISA, CCK8, and Transwell migration assays. The rat carotid artery injury model revealed substantial fibrous plaque formation and vascular stenosis, resulting in an increased intimal area and plaque-to-lumen area ratio. Notably, CHOP is markedly elevated in vessels of the carotid artery injury model compared to normal vessels. Atorvastatin effectively mitigated vascular stenosis and suppresses CHOP protein expression. In HAECs, ischemia and hypoxia-induced CHOP upregulation, along with heightened TNFα, IL-6, caspase3, and caspase8 levels, while reducing cell proliferation. Atorvastatin demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression of CHOP expression in HAECs. Downregulation of CHOP or atorvastatin treatment led to reduced IL-6 and TNFα secretion, coupled with augmented cell proliferation. Similarly, ischemia and hypoxia conditions increased CHOP expression in T/G HA-VSMCs, which was concentration-dependently inhibited by atorvastatin. Furthermore, significantly increased MMP-9 and MMP-2 concentrations in the cell culture supernatant correlated with enhanced T/G HA-VSMCs migration. However, interventions targeting CHOP downregulation and atorvastatin usage curtailed MMP-9 and MMP-2 secretion and suppressed cell migration. In conclusion, CHOP plays a crucial role in endothelial injury, proliferation, and VSMCs migration during carotid artery injury, serving as a pivotal regulator in post-injury fibrous plaque formation and vascular remodeling. Statins emerge as protectors of endothelial cells, restraining VSMCs migration by modulating CHOP expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Teng
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Qin Qin
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- School of Basic Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443000, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Yi Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- School of Basic Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443000, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Cun-Yu Cao
- School of Basic Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443000, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microencironment and Immunotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443000, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao He
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Wang Ding
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, NO, 183 Yiling Road, Yichang, 443003, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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