Abstract
Although vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are widely used in cardiovascular research, their phenotypic change under various culture conditions is problematic to evaluate the experimental results obtained. The levels of angiotensin (Ang) type 1/2 (AT1/AT2) receptors as well as contractile and structural proteins are degraded through culture passages. The present study demonstrated that heparin recovered Ang receptors and differentiation markers, such as desmin, SM-22 and smooth muscle alpha-actin in VSMCs at the ninth passage. Heparin also potenciated Ang II-induced activation for ERK1/2 and p38. These results suggest a potential value of heparin-treated VSMCs as the model for analysis of Ang-mediated signal transduction under physiological condition.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Actins / analysis
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Actins / genetics
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Actins / metabolism
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Animals
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Cells, Cultured
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Desmin / genetics
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Desmin / metabolism
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Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
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Gene Expression / drug effects
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Heparin / pharmacology*
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Microfilament Proteins / genetics
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Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
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Muscle Proteins / genetics
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Muscle Proteins / metabolism
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
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Phosphorylation
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / biosynthesis*
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / genetics
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / metabolism
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / genetics
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
Substances
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Actins
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Desmin
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Microfilament Proteins
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Muscle Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
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Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2
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transgelin
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Heparin
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases