G-protein expression and intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury: a role for Galpha(i) proteins

Identification of novel signalling roles and targets for G(α) and G(βγ) downstream of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular dysfunction is the underlying cause of nearly 80% of heart disease cases, and its initiation and progression can be exacerbated by circulating factors, such as IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). IGF-1, which is highly homologous with insulin, elicits a response via a classical tyrosine kinase receptor, the IGF-1R (IGF-1 receptor). However, it has been suggested that the IGF-1R may also be coupled to a heterotrimeric G-protein and can thus modulate cellular processes via this alternate pathway. The objective of the present study was to investigate the structural aspects of IGF-1R coupling to a heterotrimeric G-protein in VSMCs [vascular SMCs (smooth muscle cells)], as well as examine the contribution of this pathway to cellular responses that are related to vascular disease. We found that the intracellular subunit of the IGF-1R precipitates with two G-protein subunits. The G(βγ)-mediated pathway contributes to both proliferation and migration. We also show that IGF-1 specifically activates G(αi) and can directly interact with both G(αi1) and G(αi2). A phospho-screen using a novel specific G(αi)-peptide inhibitor reveals a number of potential downstream effectors of this pathway, although our results show that it is not essential for SMC proliferation or migration.

Gαq G proteins modulate MMP-9 gelatinase during remodeling of the murine femoral artery

BACKGROUND

Vessels heal after injury and G protein-coupled receptors are involved in the vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation required to form intimal hyperplasia. We have previously identified the role of Gαq in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro. This study now examines the role of Gαq in the developing intimal hyperplasia in a murine model and the impact of disruption of Gαq signaling on intimal hyperplasia development.

METHODS

We employed a murine femoral wire injury model in which a micro-wire is passed through a branch of the femoral artery and used to denude the common femoral artery. We perfusion-fixed specimens and stained sections with hematoxylin-eosin and Movat's stains such that morphometric analysis could be performed using an Image-Pro system. We also harvested additional specimens of femoral artery and snap-froze them for Western blotting or zymography, to allow for the study of G protein expression and both protease expression and activity. We used contralateral vessels as controls. We immersed additional vessels in pluronic gel containing the chemical Gαq G protein inhibitors GP-2A, siRNA to Gαq or adenovirus containing mutant inactive Gαq.

RESULTS

Gαq expression increased in a time-dependent manner after femoral artery injury. Sham-operated vessels did not produce such a response. Inhibition of Gαq reduced cell proliferation without affecting cell migration. Interruption of Gαq signaling also inhibited the development of intimal hyperplasia. Inhibition of Gαq did not alter peak urinary-type plasminogen activator activity and expression, but did increase early plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and expression. Inhibition of Gαq reduced peak metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity at Day 3 but did not influence peak MMP-2 activity at Day 7. Protein expression for MMP-9 was also decreased, but that of MMP-2 was not affected. There were no changes in the expression or the activity of the respective inhibitors for MMP-9 and MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 and -2.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that femoral wire injury in the mouse is associated with a time-dependent increase in Gαq expression. Inhibition of Gαq alters cell proliferation and is associated with decreased MMP-9 expression and activity.

Role for Gβγ G-proteins in protease regulation during remodeling of the murine femoral artery

BACKGROUND

Intimal hyperplasia remains the principal lesion in the development of restenosis after vessel wall injury. G-protein coupled receptors are involved in smooth muscle cell proliferation but the role of Gβγ in arterial intimal hyperplasia has not been well defined. The aim of this study is to characterize the expression of Gβγ G-proteins in the developing intimal hyperplasia in a murine model and the impact of disruption of Gβγ signaling on intimal hyperplasia development.

METHODS

The murine femoral wire injury model was employed. Specimens were perfusion-fixed and sections were stained with H&E and Movat's stains such that morphometry could be performed using an Image-Pro system. Additional specimens of femoral artery were also harvested and snap frozen for Western blotting for the Gβγ expression and for Western blotting and zymography to allow for the study of gelatinase and plasminogen activator expression and activation. Contralateral vessels were used as controls. Additional vessels were immersed in pluronic gel containing an adenovirus with the Gβγ inhibitor βARK(CT).

RESULTS

The injured femoral arteries developed intimal hyperplasia, while sham vessels did not produce such a response. Cell proliferation peaked at 3-5 d and cell migration at 7 d after injury. There was a marked time-dependent increase in Gβγ over the 28 d following injury. Inhibition of Gβγ with βARK(CT) inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration and the development of intimal hyperplasia. Inhibition of Gβγ decreased peak uPA activity and expression without increasing early PAI-1 activity and expression. Inhibition of Gβγ reduced peak MMP-2 activity at d 1 but not at d 7 and also reduced peak MMP-9 activity at d 3. Protein expression for both MMP-2 and MMP-9 was also transiently decreased. There were no changes in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression and activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate a time-dependent increase in Gβγ G-protein expression following wire injury in the mouse. Inhibition of Gβγ alters cell proliferation and migration with associated changes in MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA expression and activity.

Role of Gαq in smooth muscle cell proliferation

BACKGROUND

G protein-linked receptors are involved in the processes that lead to intimal hyperplasia. This study examined the role of Galphaq signaling pathways in vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro.

METHODS

Rat pulmonary artery SMCs were cultured in vitro. Standard assays of cellular DNA synthesis, proliferation, phospholipase C-beta (PLCbeta) activation, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation were used to study the response to angiotensin II (a specific Galphaq agonist; 0.1-100 micromol/L) in the presence and absence of GP-2A (a competitive Galphaq inhibitor; 10 micromol/L) and the PLCbeta inhibitor U73122 (10micromol/L).

RESULTS

Angiotensin II induced SMC DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. DNA synthesis was inhibited by both Galphaq inhibitor, GP-2A, and PLCbeta inhibitor U73122, in a dose-dependent manner (66% +/- 7% of angiotensin II alone at 10 micromol/L for GP-2A [P <.05] and 63% +/- 6% for U73122). GP-2A completely inhibited angiotensin II-induced Galphaq-mediated PLCbeta phosphorylation. Activation of ERK1/2 by angiotensin II was significantly reduced by GP-2A (P <.05) and by PLCbeta inhibition (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of Galphaq decreases PLCbeta and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, leading to decreased SMC proliferation in vitro. Understanding specific signal transduction pathways will be an integral component of anti-restenosis therapy.Clinical Relevance The universal response of a blood vessel to injury is chronic wound healing, which includes the development of intimal hyperplasia and subsequent remodeling of the vessel wall. This can lead to luminal narrowing in as many as 30% of patients undergoing angioplasty. Neointimal formation is the principal cause of in-stent recurrent stenosis. Intimal hyperplasia is in part produced by smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Understanding the keys to the proliferation of SMCs will enable therapies to be developed that may inhibit the initial development of intimal hyperplasia. Whereas in the past many studies focused on the multiple mechanical, humoral, and cellular elements that induce SMC proliferation, molecular therapeutics focuses on key choke points within the cell that can be used to inhibit proliferation. One of these key choke points is signal transduction. Galphaq is one of the ubiquitous signal transduction proteins on the membrane of SMCs. Inhibiting G proteins, such as Galphaq, would enable interference with a significant amount of the mechanical, humeral, and cellular elements that produce SMC proliferation, and thus decrease the development of intimal hyperplasia. The present study identifies and begins to map out the role of Galphaq in SMC proliferation and investigates the possible use of a small peptide in its inhibition. Other data suggest that inhibition of other G proteins will also decrease intimal hyperplasia. This is therefore a fertile area for the development of therapeutics to inhibit intimal hyperplasia. The direct relevance to the clinician is that this study identifies a transduction pathway that may be inhibited, and points in the direction of a possible molecular therapeutic target that would be beneficial as an adjunct to angioplasty or as part of a drug-eluding stent regimen.

Domain-dependent action of urokinase on smooth muscle cell responses

BACKGROUND

Single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (sc-uPA) is one of the key serine proteases involved in modulating cellular and extracellular matrix responses during tissue remodeling. Sc-uPA is composed of three domains: aminoterminal fragment (ATF), kringle domain, and carboxyterminal fragment (CTF). sc-uPA is readily cleaved into these three domain fragments in vitro, each of which is biologically active; however, their roles in the microenvironment of the vessel wall are poorly understood.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of each domain of sc-uPA on vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration.

METHODS

SMCs were cultured in vitro. Assays of DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, and migration were performed in response to sc-uPA, ATF, kringle, and CTF in the presence and absence of the plasmin inhibitors epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) and aprotinin, the Galphai inhibitor pertussis toxin, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (the upstream regulator of the extracellular-signal regulated kinase [ERK]) inhibitor PD98059.

RESULTS

sc-uPA produced dose-dependent increases in DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. These responses were dependent on the CTF domain and were sensitive to plasmin inhibitors, pertussis toxin, and PD98059. Sc-uPA also induced SMC migration, which could be elicited by both ATF and kringle. Migration to sc-uPA, ATF, and kringle was both pertussis toxin and PD98059 sensitive, but importantly was plasmin-independent.

CONCLUSION

sc-uPA induces SMC proliferation and migration, which are domain-dependent and mediated in part by Galphai-linked, ERK-dependent processes, while only the mitogenic response is protease dependent. These findings suggest that migration is linked to a G-protein coupled nonprotease receptor, while proliferation is associated with a G-protein coupled protease receptor.