Vendrov AE, Sumida A, Canugovi C, Lozhkin A, Hayami T, Madamanchi NR, Runge MS. NOXA1-dependent NADPH oxidase regulates redox signaling and phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cell during atherogenesis.
Redox Biol 2018;
21:101063. [PMID:
30576919 PMCID:
PMC6302039 DOI:
10.1016/j.redox.2018.11.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammation are key factors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that NOX activator 1 (NOXA1) is the critical functional homolog of p67phox for NADPH oxidase activation in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Here we investigated the effects of systemic and SMC-specific deletion of Noxa1 on VSMC phenotype during atherogenesis in mice.
Neointimal hyperplasia following endovascular injury was lower in Noxa1-deficient mice versus the wild-type following endovascular injury. Noxa1 deletion in Apoe-/- or Ldlr-/- mice fed a Western diet showed 50% reduction in vascular ROS and 30% reduction in aortic atherosclerotic lesion area and aortic sinus lesion volume (P < 0.01). SMC-specific deletion of Noxa1 in Apoe-/- mice (Noxa1SMC-/-/Apoe-/-) similarly decreased vascular ROS levels and atherosclerotic lesion size. TNFα-induced ROS generation, proliferation and migration were significantly attenuated in Noxa1-deficient versus wild-type VSMC. Immunofluorescence analysis of atherosclerotic lesions showed a significant decrease in cells positive for CD68 and myosin11 (22% versus 9%) and Mac3 and α-actin (17% versus 5%) in the Noxa1SMC-/-/Apoe-/- versus Apoe-/- mice. The expression of transcription factor KLF4, a modulator of VSMC phenotype, and its downstream targets – VCAM1, CCL2, and MMP2 – were significantly reduced in the lesions of Noxa1SMC-/-/Apoe-/- versus Apoe-/- mice as well as in oxidized phospholipids treated Noxa1SMC-/- versus wild-type VSMC.
Our data support an important role for NOXA1-dependent NADPH oxidase activity in VSMC plasticity during restenosis and atherosclerosis, augmenting VSMC proliferation and migration and KLF4-mediated transition to macrophage-like cells, plaque inflammation, and expansion.
NOXA1 is a VSMC-specific regulator of NADPH oxidase 1 activity and downstream cell signaling.
NOX1 NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation is required for VSMC proliferation and migration after endovascular injury.
NOXA1-dependent NOX1 activation of KLF4 in atherosclerotic lesions induces SMC phenotypic switch to macrophage-like cells.
Atherosclerotic lesion macrophage-like cells promote plaque inflammation, matrix remodeling and increase volume expansion.
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