| 1. |
- Alajbegovic, Azra, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of microRNA expression in vascular smooth muscle by MRTF-A and actin polymerization
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-4889. ; 1864:6, s. 1088-1098
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamic properties of the actin cytoskeleton in smooth muscle cells play an important role in a number of cardiovascular disease states. The state of actin does not only mediate mechanical stability and contractile function but can also regulate gene expression via myocardin related transcription factors (MRTFs). These transcriptional co-activators regulate genes encoding contractile and cytoskeletal proteins in smooth muscle. Regulation of small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) by actin polymerization may mediate some of these effects. MiRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by post-transcriptional regulation of target messenger RNA.In this study we aimed to determine a profile of miRNAs that were 1) regulated by actin/MRTF-A, 2) associated with the contractile smooth muscle phenotype and 3) enriched in muscle cells. This analysis was performed using cardiovascular disease-focused miRNA arrays in both mouse and human cells. The potential clinical importance of actin polymerization in aortic aneurysm was evaluated using biopsies from mildly dilated human thoracic aorta in patients with stenotic tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve.By integrating information from multiple qPCR based miRNA arrays we identified a group of five miRNAs (miR-1, miR-22, miR-143, miR-145 and miR-378a) that were sensitive to actin polymerization and MRTF-A overexpression in both mouse and human vascular smooth muscle. With the exception of miR-22, these miRNAs were also relatively enriched in striated and/or smooth muscle containing tissues. Actin polymerization was found to be dramatically reduced in the aorta from patients with mild aortic dilations. This was associated with a decrease in actin/MRTF-regulated miRNAs.In conclusion, the transcriptional co-activator MRTF-A and actin polymerization regulated a subset of miRNAs in vascular smooth muscle. Identification of novel miRNAs regulated by actin/MRTF-A may provide further insight into the mechanisms underlying vascular disease states, such as aortic aneurysm, as well as novel ideas regarding therapeutic strategies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech.
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| 2. |
- Bhattachariya, Anirban, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of microRNAs is essential for arterial myogenic tone and pressure-induced activation of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1755-3245 .- 0008-6363. ; 101:2, s. 288-296
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The myogenic response is the intrinsic ability of small arteries to constrict in response to increased intraluminal pressure. Although microRNAs have been shown to play a role in vascular smooth muscle function, their importance in the regulation of the myogenic response is not known. In this study, we investigate the role of microRNAs in the regulation of myogenic tone by using smooth muscle-specific and tamoxifen-inducible deletion of the endonuclease Dicer in mice.
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| 3. |
- Bhattachariya, Anirban, et al.
(författare)
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PYK2 selectively mediates signals for growth versus differentiation in response to stretch of spontaneously active vascular smooth muscle.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Physiological Reports. - : Wiley. - 2051-817X. ; 2:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stretch of vascular smooth muscle stimulates growth and proliferation as well as contraction and expression of contractile/cytoskeletal proteins, all of which are also regulated by calcium-dependent signals. We studied the role of the calcium- and integrin-activated proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) in stretch-induced responses of the rat portal vein loaded by a hanging weight ex vivo. PYK2 phosphorylation at Tyr-402 was increased both by a 10-min stretch and by organ culture with load over several days. Protein and DNA synthesis were reduced by the novel PYK2 inhibitor PF-4594755 (0.5-1 μmol/L), while still sensitive to stretch. In 3-day organ culture, PF-4594755 caused maintained myogenic spontaneous activity but did not affect contraction in response to high-K(+) (60 mmol/L) or to α1-adrenergic stimulation by cirazoline. Basal and stretch-induced PYK2 phosphorylation in culture were inhibited by PF-4594755, closely mimicking inhibition of non-voltage-dependent calcium influx by 2-APB (30 μmol/L). In contrast, the L-type calcium channel blocker, nifedipine (1 μmol/L) eliminated stretch-induced but not basal PYK2 phosphorylation. Stretch-induced Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was eliminated by PF-4594755. PYK2 inhibition had no effect on mRNA expression of several smooth muscle markers, and stretch-sensitive SM22α synthesis was preserved. Culture of portal vein with the Ang II inhibitor losartan (1 μmol/L) eliminated stretch sensitivity of PYK2 and Akt phosphorylation, but did not affect mRNA expression of smooth muscle markers. The results suggest that PYK2 signaling functionally distinguishes effects of voltage- and non-voltage-dependent calcium influx. A small-molecule inhibitor of PYK2 reduces growth and DNA synthesis but does not affect contractile differentiation of vascular smooth muscle.
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| 4. |
- Forte, Amalia, et al.
(författare)
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Local inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase reduces vascular stenosis in a murine model of carotid injury
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273. ; 168:4, s. 3370-3380
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Polyamines are organic polycations playing an essential role in cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as in cell contractility, migration and apoptosis. These processes are known to contribute to restenosis, a pathophysiological process often occurring in patients submitted to revascularization procedures. We aimed to test the effect of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, on vascular cell pathophysiology in vitro and in a rat model of carotid arteriotomy-induced (re) stenosis. Methods: The effect of DFMO on primary rat smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and mouse microvascular bEnd. 3 endothelial cells (ECs) was evaluated through the analysis of DNA synthesis, polyamine concentration, cell viability, cell cycle phase distribution and by RT-PCR targeting cyclins and genes belonging to the polyamine pathway. The effect of DFMO was then evaluated in arteriotomy-injured rat carotids through the analysis of cell proliferation and apoptosis, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis of differential gene expression. Results: DFMO showed a differential effect on SMCs and on ECs, with a marked, sustained anti-proliferative effect of DFMO at 3 and 8 days of treatment on SMCs and a less pronounced, late effect on bEnd. 3 ECs at 8 days of DFMO treatment. DFMO applied perivascularly in pluronic gel at arteriotomy site reduced subsequent cell proliferation and preserved smooth muscle differentiation without affecting the endothelial coverage. Lumen area in DFMO-treated carotids was 49% greater than in control arteries 4 weeks after injury. Conclusions: Our data support the key role of polyamines in restenosis and suggest a novel therapeutic approach for this pathophysiological process. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Grossi, Mario, et al.
(författare)
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Inhibition of Polyamine Formation Antagonizes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Preserves the Contractile Phenotype.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. - : Wiley. - 1742-7843 .- 1742-7835. ; 115:5, s. 379-388
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine play essential roles in cell proliferation and migration, two processes involved in the development of vascular disease. Thus, intervention with polyamine formation may represent a way to inhibit unwanted vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. The aim of the present study was to assess the importance of polyamines for VSMC proliferation and vascular contractility. The rate-limiting step in polyamine biosynthesis is catalyzed by ornithine decarboxylase. Treatment with α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, reduced DNA synthesis in primary rat VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 100 μM. Moreover, DFMO reduced VSMC migration assessed in a scratch assay. The DFMO-induced attenuation of VSMC proliferation was associated with lowered cellular amount of polyamines. The anti-proliferative effect of DFMO was specific since supplementation with polyamines reversed the effect of DFMO on proliferation and normalized cellular polyamine levels. Isometric force recordings in cultured rat tail artery rings showed that DFMO counteracts the decrease in contractility caused by culture with foetal bovine serum as growth stimulant. We conclude that inhibition of polyamine synthesis by DFMO may limit the first wave of cell proliferation and migration, which occurs in the acute phase after vascular injury. Besides its anti-proliferative effect, DFMO may prevent loss of the smooth muscle contractile phenotype in vascular injury. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Grossi, Mario, et al.
(författare)
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Pyk2 inhibition promotes contractile differentiation in arterial smooth muscle
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Cellular Physiology. - : Wiley. - 0021-9541. ; 232:11, s. 3088-3102
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Modulation from contractile to synthetic phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells is a central process in disorders involving compromised integrity of the vascular wall. Phenotype modulation has been shown to include transition from voltage-dependent toward voltage-independent regulation of the intracellular calcium level, and inhibition of non-voltage dependent calcium influx contributes to maintenance of the contractile phenotype. One possible mediator of calcium-dependent signaling is the FAK-family non-receptor protein kinase Pyk2, which is activated by a number of stimuli in a calcium-dependent manner. We used the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-4594755 and Pyk2 siRNA to investigate the role of Pyk2 in phenotype modulation in rat carotid artery smooth muscle cells and in cultured intact arteries. Pyk2 inhibition promoted the expression of smooth muscle markers at the mRNA and protein levels under stimulation by FBS or PDGF-BB and counteracted phenotype shift in cultured intact carotid arteries and balloon injury ex vivo. During long-term (24–96 hr) treatment with PF-4594755, smooth muscle markers increased before cell proliferation was inhibited, correlating with decreased KLF4 expression and differing from effects of MEK inhibition. The Pyk2 inhibitor reduced Orai1 and preserved SERCA2a expression in carotid artery segments in organ culture, and eliminated the inhibitory effect of PDGF stimulation on L-type calcium channel and large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel expression in carotid cells. Basal intracellular calcium level, calcium wave activity, and store-operated calcium influx were reduced after Pyk2 inhibition of growth-stimulated cells. Pyk2 inhibition may provide an interesting approach for preserving vascular smooth muscle differentiation under pathophysiological conditions.
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| 7. |
- Turczynska, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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MicroRNAs are essential for stretch-induced vascular smooth muscle contractile differentiation via miR-145-dependent expression of L-type calcium channels.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 1083-351X. ; 287:23, s. 19199-19206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stretch of the vascular wall is an important stimulus to maintain smooth muscle contractile differentiation that is known to depend on L-type calcium influx, Rho-activation and actin polymerization. The role of microRNAs in this response was investigated using tamoxifen-inducible and smooth muscle specific Dicer KO mice. In the absence of Dicer, which is required for microRNA maturation, smooth muscle microRNAs were completely ablated. Stretch-induced contractile differentiation and Rho-dependent Cofilin-2 phosphorylation was dramatically reduced in Dicer KO vessels. On the other hand, acute stretch-sensitive growth signaling, which is independent of influx through L-type calcium channels, was not affected by Dicer KO. Contractile differentiation induced by the actin polymerizing agent jasplakinolide was not altered by deletion of Dicer suggesting an effect upstream of actin polymerization. Basal and stretch-induced L-type calcium channel expression were both decreased in Dicer KO portal veins and inhibition of L-type channels in control vessels mimicked the effects of Dicer deletion. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-145, a highly expressed microRNA in smooth muscle, resulted in a similar reduction of L-type calcium channel expression. This was abolished by the CaMKII inhibitor KN93, suggesting that CamKIIδ, a target of miR-145 and up-regulated in Dicer KO, plays a role in the regulation of L-type channel expression. These results show that microRNAs play a crucial role in stretch-induced contractile differentiation in the vascular wall, in part via miR-145 dependent regulation of L-type calcium channels.
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| 8. |
- Turczynska, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of Smooth Muscle Dystrophin and Synaptopodin 2 Expression by Actin Polymerization and Vascular Injury.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. - 1524-4636. ; 35:6, s. 1489-1497
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Actin dynamics in vascular smooth muscle is known to regulate contractile differentiation and may play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. However, the list of genes regulated by actin polymerization in smooth muscle remains incomprehensive. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify actin-regulated genes in smooth muscle and to demonstrate the role of these genes in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle phenotype.
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| 9. |
- Turczynska, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of vascular smooth muscle mechanotransduction by microRNAs and L-type calcium channels.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Communicative & Integrative Biology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1942-0889. ; 6:1, s. 22278-22278
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The phenotype of smooth muscle cells is regulated by multiple environmental factors including mechanical forces. Mechanical stretch of mouse portal veins ex vivo has been shown to promote contractile differentiation by activation of the Rho-pathway, an effect that is dependent on the influx of calcium via L-type calcium channels. MicroRNAs have recently been demonstrated to play a significant role in the control of smooth muscle phenotype and in a recent report we investigated their role in vascular mechanosensing. By smooth muscle specific deletion of Dicer, we found that microRNAs are essential for smooth muscle differentiation in response to stretch by regulating CamKIIδ and L-type calcium channel expression. Furthermore, we suggest that loss of L-type calcium channels in Dicer KO is due to reduced expression of the smooth muscle-enriched microRNA, miR-145, which targets CamKIIδ. These results unveil a novel mechanism for miR-145 dependent regulation of smooth muscle phenotype.
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| 10. |
- Turczynska, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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Stretch-Sensitive Down-Regulation of the miR-144/451 Cluster in Vascular Smooth Muscle and Its Role in AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling.
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vascular smooth muscle cells are constantly exposed to mechanical force by the blood pressure, which is thought to regulate smooth muscle growth, differentiation and contractile function. We have previously shown that the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, is essential for regulation of smooth muscle phenotype including stretch-dependent contractile differentiation. In this study, we have investigated the effect of mechanical stretch on miRNA expression and the role of stretch-sensitive miRNAs for intracellular signaling in smooth muscle. MiRNA array analysis, comparing miRNA levels in stretched versus non-stretched portal veins, revealed a dramatic decrease in the miR-144/451 cluster level. Because this miRNA cluster is predicted to target AMPK pathway components, we next examined activation of this pathway. Diminished miR-144/451 expression was inversely correlated with increased phosphorylation of AMPKα at Thr172 in stretched portal vein. Similar to the effect of stretch, contractile differentiation could be induced in non-stretched portal veins by the AMPK activator, AICAR. Transfection with miR-144/451 mimics reduced the protein expression level of mediators in the AMPK pathway including MO25α, AMPK and ACC. This effect also decreased AICAR-induced activation of the AMPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that stretch-induced activation of AMPK in vascular smooth muscle is in part regulated by reduced levels of miR-144/451 and that this effect may play a role in promoting contractile differentiation of smooth muscle cells.
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