MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 regulate epidermal growth factor‐dependent collagen loss in human carotid plaque smooth muscle cells

Physiological Reports

Velidi H. Rao¹  Vikash Kansal¹  Samantha Stoupa¹ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska

关键词: Atherosclerosis;    carotid plaques;    interstitial collagens;    matrix metalloproteinase;    vascular smooth muscle cells;   

DOI  :  10.1002/phy2.224

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Mechanisms underlying the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque, a crucial factor in the development of myocardial infarction and stroke, are not well defined. Here, we examined the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) on the stability of interstitial collagens in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from carotid endarterectomy tissues of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis. VSMCs isolated from the carotid plaques of both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients were treated with EGF. The MMP-9 activity was quantified by gelatin zymography and the analysis of mRNA transcripts and protein for MMP-9, MMP-1, EGFR and collagen types I, Col I(α1) and collagen type III, Col III(α1) were analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. The effect of EGF treatment to increase MMP-9 activity and mRNA transcripts for MMP-9, MMP-1, and EGFR and to decrease mRNA transcripts for Col I(α1) and Col III(α1) was threefold to fourfold greater in VSMCs isolated from the carotid plaques of symptomatic than asymptomatic patients. Inhibitors of EGFR (AG1478) and a small molecule inhibitor of MMP-9 decreased the MMP9 expression and upregulated Col I(α1) and Col III(α1) in EGF-treated VSMCs of both groups. Additionally, the magnitude in decreased MMP-9 mRNA and increased Col I(α1) and Col III(α1) due to knockdown of MMP-9 gene with siRNA in EGF-treated VSMCs was significantly greater in the symptomatic group than the asymptomatic group. Thus, a selective blockade of both EGFR and MMP-9 may be a novel strategy and a promising target for stabilizing vulnerable plaques in patients with carotid stenosis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

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